Michael Carrick is preparing to build a familiar and trusted coaching team as he prepares to become interim manager of Manchester United, with Jonathan Woodgate set to join him at Old Trafford, according to Ben Jacobs.
Woodgate previously worked alongside Carrick at Middlesbrough, where the pair were praised for implementing a progressive style of play and guiding the club to the Championship playoffs.
Carrick’s appointment as interim manager is expected to be confirmed within the next 24 hours, as United look to restore structure and stability after a chaotic and disappointing season.
The move marks a return to the club for Carrick, who spent more than a decade at United as a player and was later part of the coaching staff under José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
Michael Carrick has decided on his coaching team
As well as Woodgate, Carrick is also exploring the possibility of adding Darren Fletcher and Jonny Evans to his support team.
Fletcher, already integrated into United’s technical set-up, brings deep tactical insight and institutional knowledge, while Evans is seen as an experienced and respected figure, capable of improving the defensive organization and offering a unique player-manager perspective.
Together, this group forms a coaching unit built around continuity, club familiarity and a modern understanding of Man United’s footballing philosophies.
The club’s hierarchy believe that Carrick’s calm temperament, tactical clarity and strong relationships within the dressing room make him the ideal figure to stabilize the team until a permanent manager is appointed at the end of the season.
Carrick should bring stability to Man United
United’s management will hope this setup will bring much-needed stability to a dressing room which has struggled with confidence, identity and consistency.
With the club having exited both domestic cups early and languishing outside the top four, the interim team’s immediate priorities will be to unify the team, solidify the defensive structure and restore confidence ahead of a demanding final part of the campaign.
Now, with confirmation imminent, fans will soon see the start of a new, albeit temporary, chapter led by one of the club’s most respected modern figures.
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