Michael Carrick to Face Baptism of Fire in Manchester Derby
Published on January 14, 2026 at 1:41 PM by Evance Kapito
Michael Carrick’s first task as the newly appointed Manchester United head coach will be a high-stakes local derby against Manchester City at Old Trafford this Saturday, January 17.
The club confirmed on Tuesday that the former United captain has signed a deal to lead the first team until the end of the 2025/26 season. Carrick replaces Ruben Amorim, whose 14-month tenure ended abruptly earlier this month following a power struggle with club hierarchy and a disappointing run of results.
The Manchester Derby kicks off a brutal start for Carrick, who must stabilize a squad that is currently 17 points behind league leaders Arsenal. United head into the match searching for their first win in five games, having most recently crashed out of the FA Cup under temporary lead Darren Fletcher.
Following the showdown with Pep Guardiola’s side, Carrick will take his team to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal on Sunday, January 25.
