How other Man United interim managers have fared as Michael Carrick takes charge

Michael Carrick has become the latest Man United interim manager ahead of their derby showdown with Manchester City this weekend.

The game marks the Englishman’s second spell as United interim boss, after his short three-game stint as caretaker manager in November 2021.

Managers are a lot like London buses in the red-half of Manchester at the moment. After having just one temporary manager in their first 135 years as a club, Carrick will be United’s seventh interim coach since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Here at FootballBlog, we thought it would be best to revisit how each of them got on as Man United boss.

Man United interim managers’ records

Ryan Giggs (April – May 2014)

Games: 4

Win Percentage: 50%

The first caretaker boss was United legend Ryan Giggs, who stepped up as player manager all the way back in 2014.

The Welsh Wizard was thrust into the spotlight after a turbulent transition season under David Moyes.

Hand-picked by Sir Alex as his natural successor, Moyes turned out to be anything but. 

After a 2-0 away loss to Everton in April left their Champions League chances in tatters, Giggs took charge of the final four games of the 2013-14 season.

The Welshman kicked things off with three straight home games in front of the Old Trafford faithful. A 4-0 thrashing of Norwich was followed up with a defeat to Sunderland before another victory over Hull turned out to be his final appearance as a player for the club.

Giggs’ short tenure ended with a 1-1 draw away to Southampton. Shortly after the full time whistle blew, Giggs said he burst into tears in his car after fearing his days at United were over. 

However, he was soon back as assistant manager under successor Louis Van Gaal until 2016.

On this day in 2014, Ryan Giggs played his final game for United. pic.twitter.com/8o7dQbl3HA

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 6, 2018

 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (December 2018 – March 2019)

Games: 19

Win Percentage: 74%

After Jose Mourinho was sacked in December 2018, former United striker Solskjaer took the helm.

Nicknamed the ‘Baby-faced Assassin’, the Norwegian famously scored the dramatic winning goal against Bayern Munich in United’s treble winning season to bring the Champions League trophy back to Manchester.

And for a short time, he looked to have brought his magic touch into management in the United hotseat.

After winning 14 of his first 19 games in charge, the United board finally hired Solskjaer on a permanent basis. 

The Norwegian repaid the faith by guiding United to a respectable third place finish in 2019-20 before going one better in 2020-21, seemingly steadying the ship at a club that had been living in Ferguson’s shadow.

However, after a poor start in 21-22, including a run of 15 goals conceded in just five games, Solskjaer left by mutual consent following a 4-1 loss to relegation threatened Watford in November 2021.

Michael Carrick (November-December 2021)

Games: 3

Win Percentage: 66%

No, you’re not seeing double. Michael Carrick was put in charge as Man United interim manager for a three-game spell following Solskjaer’s departure.

Despite remaining undefeated in his very brief stint, he was not offered the permanent position.

Although, the Englishman did follow this up with a three year stint at Middlesborough – enough to earn him another interim stint this time around.

In the meantime, with limited senior options in the market, United went for another interim manager…

Ralf Rangnick (December 2021 – May 2022)

Games: 29

Win Percentage: 38%

Known as a pioneer of football’s favourite buzzword, ‘gegenpressing’, Austrian Ralf Rangnick was a surprise choice, having been away from the game since a season long spell at RB Leipzig in 2018-19.

A man who loved intense football, United clearly liked the cut of his gib, and hired Rangnick on an interim basis in December 2021.

The initial plan was for the experienced Rangnick to instill principles of discipline and pressing in a United side which had lost their way, before taking on a consultancy role to help United conduct the “open heart surgery” the Austrian felt the club so desperately needed. 

Up until February of that season, the plan looked to be going well, with United sitting in fourth place.

However, the uncertainty caused by Rangnick’s temporary status seemed to unsettle the squad, with performances dropping culminating in a sixth place finish on 58 points – their worst total until the 2024/25 season under Erik Ten Hag.

Ultimately, Rangnick left by mutual consent at the end of the season to take over the Austrian national team, leaving the consultancy role behind.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy (October-November 2024)

Games: 4

Win Percentage: 75%

After Erik Ten Haag was sacked, United again turned to a former player to fill the void.

Dutchman Ruud Van Nistelrooy was already serving as assistant coach to compatriot Ten Haag, but stepped up as manager whilst United worked on prying Ruben Amorim away from Sporting Lisbon.

With two victories over Leicester City during his interim spell, Nistelrooy had done enough to earn him the job at the King Power Stadium, but United had their heart set on Amorim.

Nistelrooy went on to struggle at Leicester as they were relegated back to the Championship last May and has been out of work since.

Darren Fletcher (January 2026)

Games: 2

Win Percentage: 0%

Darren Fletcher’s spell was the shortest of all United’s interim bosses.

The Scotsman took over in the new year and oversaw a 2-2 draw with Burnley alongside an equally disappointing FA cup exit to Brighton.

By exiting the cup, United’s season will be their shortest since 1915.

Will Michael Carrick succeed as Man United interim manager?

As it becomes full circle for Carrick after his previous stint as Man United interim manager, the question on everyone’s mind is what’s the plan for Carrick at United?

His time at Middlesbrough showed some promise, as he guided them to the play-off semi finals in 2023 and an Carabao Cup cup semi-final in 2024. 

And he still takes charge with an unbeaten record as Manchester United boss from his first spell in charge. That’s got to count for something, right?

But the question remains, does he have enough experience to get the role on a permanent basis, or will United look for more senior options in the summer?

A debut victory in the Manchester derby would certainly help his case.