When Michael Carrick arrived as Middlesbrough boss in October 2022, it capped somewhat of a full circle for the legendary former Manchester United midfielder.
Carrick, now 43, grew up in Wallsend, less than an hours drive from the Riverside Stadium, before he spent three years in Middlesbrough’s Centre of Excellence.
The 34-cap England international eventually broke through at West Ham and went on to enjoy a glittering career with the Hammers, Tottenham and United, winning everything there is to win at Old Trafford.
He began his coaching journey by overseeing a United Under 14s team that included Mason Greenwood and Anthony Elanga, and progressed to the first team where he worked under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following his retirement.
When Solskjaer was sacked, Carrick had three games in interim charge before he exited Old Trafford in December 2021 and, following a 10-month break – and after picking the brains of Bryan Robson and Sir Alex Ferguson – his Boro journey began.
Over the subsequent two-and-a-half years, Carrick has overseen one play-off campaign, taken his side to an EFL Cup semi-final, narrowly missed out on the top six last time out, and ahead of the final game of 2024-25, Boro sit ninth, two points behind sixth-place Coventry.
At Boro, Carrick has overseen a play-off campaign, taken his side to an EFL Cup semi-final, narrowly missed out on the top six last time out, and is making a late play-off push this season
Club sources were effusive in their praise for Carrick when asked by Mail Sport, with one labelling him as ‘a true gentleman’
His personality is something that comes up in conversations and Carrick is extremely popular among Middlesbrough’s squad
They face a crunch trip to the Sky Blues on Saturday where Carrick, one of the best young managers in the EFL, will be pitted against another Golden Generation midfielder in Frank Lampard.
Club sources were effusive in their praise for Carrick when asked by Mail Sport, with one labelling him as ‘a true gentleman’, while his humble nature and general character was hailed.
Carrick’s initial impact in the 2022-23 campaign was special given he took over a side that was 21st in the Championship and looking like relegation candidates after Chris Wilder’s sacking.
But Carrick guided Boro to 18 wins in 30 games as they rose to fourth until a 1-0 aggregate defeat by Coventry in the play-offs extinguished their promotion hopes.
Mail Sport understands Carrick lifted the mood significantly upon his arrival and his demeanour enabled him to get the best out of a struggling side.
His personality is something that comes up in conversations and Carrick is extremely popular among Middlesbrough’s squad. His own playing record demands instant respect, but the 43-year-old’s way of operating is well-regarded too.
Carrick’s innate composure and ability to read the game has been transferred into coaching where he is a calm presence on the touchline.
He is now Boro’s longest-serving boss since Aitor Karanka and has also implemented an attractive style of play, with one figure claiming the football is among the best they have ever watched at times.
He has also implements an attractive style of play, with one figure claiming the football is among the best they have ever watched at times
Sources at Old Trafford are not surprised by Carrick’s progress given the impression he made during three-and-a-half-years coaching United’s first team
Several stars, including Bruno Fernandes, still speak fondly of Carrick and loved working with him
Sources at Old Trafford are not surprised by Carrick’s progress given the impression he made during three-and-a-half-years coaching United’s first team.
Several stars, including Bruno Fernandes, still speak fondly of Carrick and loved working with him. He was also known for giving up a significant portion of time to help younger players like Everton’s James Garner, who was on the fringes of the first team.
The roles of Carrick and Kieran McKenna supporting Solskjaer were often maligned externally, but Mail Sport understands that perception couldn’t be further from the truth and the pair leaned on each other to become more rounded coaches.
But it was Carrick’s three-game interim stint that really left an impression amid a turbulent time. During that short tenure which preceded Ralf Rangnick’s disastrous spell, United beat Villarreal to secure their place in the Champions League knockout stages, drew with Chelsea, before a 3-2 win over Arsenal concluded his reign.
One source labelled it as the most stable period of what was a chaotic season and Carrick’s ability to galvanise the squad, show leadership, while also empowering people to work under him left onlookers impressed.
The way he handled the media was commendable too and the same source insists they expect Carrick to go to the very top of management one day.
In fact, shortly after the Arsenal game, Fernandes told the media: ‘Michael can be a really good manager in the future if he gets that chance. He knows how to speak, he knows a lot of football. For what I have seen he can be a top coach.’
Carrick’s managerial record is in stark contrast to the likes of Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney – former team-mates who have struggled in the dugout.
He has been backed by Fernandes, who said: ‘Michael can be a really good manager in the future if he gets that chance’
Carrick’s managerial record is in stark contrast to the likes of Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney – former team-mates who have struggled in the dugout
Sources insist it is hard to compare Carrick’s record to those individuals, but he is still spoken of highly at Old Trafford and may return one day.
His time at Middlesbrough has been characterised by the development of young players and Morgan Rogers is the standout name.
Signed as a talented but raw 21-year-old from Man City for £1.5million in the summer of 2023, Rogers shone under Carrick and is said to view him as an inspiration to his career. Rogers was sold to Aston Villa for £15m within six months and the rest is history.
Loan signings like Aaron Ramsey, Cameron Archer, Ben Doak and Ryan Giles have also thrived, while homegrown star Hayden Hackney seems destined for a Premier League move in the near future.
But sources are at pains to point out that Carrick is not a one-trick pony, rather he has improved all of the players at his disposal.
Jonny Howson is viewed as an example, with the veteran midfielder, 36, shining after being reinvented as a centre back in recent times.
There is also the case of Chuba Akpom, once an Arsenal wonderkid tipped for stardom, but he had undergone a nomadic career before Carrick turned up at Middlesbrough.
Twenty eight league goals followed in 2022-23 and the 29-year-old was sold to Ajax for £12.2m. Now at Lille, his next best season goal tally is 11.
Chuba Akpom was having a nomadic career before he shone under Carrick and earned a move to Ajax
Morgan Rogers also shot upwards in his development when playing for Carrick
Jonny Howson, 36, is shining after being reinvented as a centre back in recent times
There have been some difficult moments for Carrick, not least a tricky start to the 2023-24 season that left Middlesbrough bottom after two points from seven games.
A five-game losing streak earlier this year frustrated fans, while four points in their past five matches has been a significant setback for Boro’s play-off push. But popular owner and chairman Steve Gibson has remained steadfast in backing him.
Club sources admit a lack of consistency has let Carrick’s side down this season, evidenced by 18 wins and 17 defeats. Yet, given Middlesbrough’s financial situation, his work shouldn’t be knocked.
The top three in the Championship are described as being in a ‘different stratosphere’ financially, while Sunderland have the benefit of crowds of more than 40,000.
Gibson is one of the most loyal chairmen out there, but his financial power means Boro often have to sell to compete. Akpom was a prime example and top scorer Emmanuel Latte Lath was poached by Atlanta United for £22.5m in the winter window. Isaiah Jones and Matt Clarke were similarly sold and there are questions whether that period hindered Carrick.
There is also a feeling in some quarters that Boro’s lack of experience hasn’t helped. Howson, alongside Luke Ayling, has spent large spells unavailable while seasoned centre back Darragh Lenihan hasn’t featured since September 2023 due to injury.
For now, full attention turns to Coventry, the side Carrick scored his first Premier League goal against, while the lingering feeling of the 2023 play-off defeat remains.
Middlesbrough’s goal difference is the best out of the five teams battling for the final two play-off spots, but they must beat Coventry and hope Millwall and Blackburn don’t win to secure a top six place.
For now, full attention turns to Coventry, the side who ended Boro’s play-off dreams in 2023
The crucial clash this weekend is a match-up of the two West Ham academy products
Carrick insisted it won’t be a failure if Middlesbrough miss out, but he has urged his side to have ‘belief and hope’
Carrick insisted it won’t be a failure if Middlesbrough miss out, but he has urged his side to have ‘belief and hope’.
‘It’s difficult to get in the play-offs,’ he said last week. ‘It’s tough to be there. We were close; we’ve been stable and consistent. Over the last two years, one was in, one we just missed and now we’re still in with a big chance of getting in there.
‘Historically we’ve seen it and it’s there for all of us to know that anything can happen on the last day. We’ve got to go there believing that we can get what we want from the day never mind the game.’
Warnock’s message to promoted teams
There are few managers quite as iconic as Neil Warnock and we caught up with the 76-year-old shortly after he was recognised at the EFL awards on Sunday night for his ‘Contribution to League Football’.
Warnock was in great form and as a veteran of eight promotions in the dugout and stints in the Premier League at four clubs, we asked what Leeds and Burnley can do to avoid following in the footsteps of the previous six promoted teams in coming straight back down to the Championship.
‘I think they’ve just got to spend wisely,’ he told us. ‘When Daniel Farke went up with Norwich, they spent £5million. That’s all they spent. You can’t expect somebody to keep a side up.
‘They said, “Look, we can’t afford it, we don’t want to go into debt”. You can’t (not support him), you’ve got to. And Leeds will support him and he’ll show what a good manager he is.’
Neil Warnock, who revealed he has relished his advisory role with Torquay United in the National League South this season, also had some simple advice for up and coming managers
Warnock was in great form as a veteran of eight promotions in the dugout and stints in the Premier League at four clubs
Warnock, who revealed he has relished his advisory role with Torquay United in the National League South this season, also had some simple advice for up and coming managers in the modern game.
‘Make sure you get a good chairman,’ he added with a smile.
The EFL’s set piece kings
Lincoln City’s final game of the League One season this Saturday may not have much riding on it given they sit in 11th place, but the Imps are hoping to take one accolade from 2024-25.
Michael Skubala’s side top the EFL table for the most goals scored from set-pieces with an impressive 30, five clear of Exeter in second.
Reeco Hackett-Fairchild spots Bolton goalkeeper Nathan Baxter well outside his goal and goes for it, sneaking the ball in off the near post
Mail Sport has previously reported how Lincoln have tapped into AI to analyse set pieces and see where they can improve.
But another factor showing why their record is no surprise comes after what we learned following Reeco Hackett-Fairchild’s audacious 40–yard free kick against Bolton on Easter Monday when he caught Trotters keeper Nathan Baxter off guard.
While it may have looked like a spur of the moment finish, we were told by a source close to the club that it was a pre-planned set piece after a junior analyst spotted Baxter’s aggressive positioning from free kicks ahead of the game.
With in depth tips like that and a solid core, it would be no surprise to see Skubala’s men push on for the play-offs in 2025-26.
