Michael Carrick backed for Manchester United 'clean-the-slate' appointment over 'definite no-no' Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

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Manchester United should appoint Michael Carrick, not Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as their interim manager, according to former Liverpool and Real Madrid winger Steve McManaman. The TNT Sports pundit thinks it would be wrong to bring back the Norwegian to coach the side having already been sacked from the position, and tipped Carrick as the better option.

Carrick a 'better appointment' than 'very strange' Solskjaer choice - McManaman

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Steve McManaman believes Manchester United appointing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be a "strange" decision.

United are on the hunt for an interim appointment, which would likely take them to the end of the season before naming a permanent head coach.

Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti are both reportedly in the frame, and could be targeted after the 2026 World Cup in North America with England and Brazil respectively.

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For now, Darren Fletcher is the caretaker boss, but he is not thought to be a strong contender to lead the team beyond Sunday’s Emirates FA Cup tie against Brighton & Hove Albion - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Instead, Solskjaer, Michael Carrick and Ruud van Nistelrooy are all expected to go through an interview process before a decision is made.

Former Norway international forward Solskjaer stepped in as a short-term replacement for Jose Mourinho, taking on the position in 2018 before being given the full-time role ahead of his departure in 2021. He managed Besiktas briefly in 2025 but did not work between United and the Turkish side.

Carrick managed Middlesbrough between 2022 and 2025 and was United caretaker in 2021, while Van Nistelrooy was caretaker in 2024 at Old Trafford, and led Leicester City after that until 2025.

Reports suggest that Carrick and Solskjaer are the frontrunners for the gig ahead of the Dutchman, with some stories hinting that Carrick would be willing to take the assistant role under Solskjaer, or that the pair could be appointed as a team.

However, speaking to TNT Sports, McManaman said that he thought a joint appointment was unlikely.

He said: "I'd be very surprised if Ole comes in with Michael. I think that's a definite no-no. I think it's either/or."

The former Liverpool midfielder added that he thought it would not be the right decision if Solskjaer was brought back, given he had already been sacked by United before, and he believed giving Carrick the job made more sense given the situation United find themselves in.

He explained: "It'll be interesting to see, but I think we've had this discussion before. I think we'd all be surprised if Ole came back in. After getting rid of him and paying him off, to bring him back, it would be a very strange one.

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"It just muddies the water a little bit more for more criticism, for more people to have a poke at Manchester United.

"They need to clean the slate and start again, and that's Michael coming in. If that's Michael coming in, I think that's a better appointment."

United are in seventh in the Premier League, but a win could take them into fourth place if the next set of results go in their favour.

They were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Grimsby Town earlier in the season, and are not involved in European competition this season after finishing in 15th last year.

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