Carrick vs Amorim: Who Made the Bigger Impact as Man Utd's Caretaker Boss?

Manchester United find themselves trapped in an all-too-recognizable cycle, with Michael Carrick now at the wheel.

The former Red Devils midfielder, who performed admirably during his interim stint, appears destined to become the latest victim of the poisoned chalice that is Old Trafford. Just months ago, Carrick could do no wrong, guiding United to a third-place finish and securing their return to Champions League football.

Yet, as has become customary in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, early optimism has given way to gloom and uncertainty. Fans continue to rally behind their manager, directing their anger elsewhere, but it is invariably the man in the dugout who pays the price for the failings of those above him.

Ruben Amorim understood that reality all too well, even if his own shortcomings were more apparent than those of his successor. The Portuguese tactician is now settling into life in Milan, working to rebuild his standing after extricating himself from Old Trafford's grip at the turn of the year.

Amorim departed with one of the most dismal managerial records in United's recent history, but does the club's current struggles under Carrick put the Englishman in danger of falling below the low benchmark set by his predecessor?

Let's take a look at how their records stack up.

Ruben Amorim vs. Michael Carrick: Overall Man Utd Records

Amorim spent 14 months at the Manchester club, taking charge of 63 matches in total. Of those, the Portuguese manager secured just 25 wins against 23 defeats.

His 39.7% win rate is the second-worst among United managers since the Premier League era began, with only caretaker Ralf Rangnick (37.9%) faring worse across all competitions. Amorim's league record was even more troubling, claiming just 15 wins from 47 Premier League outings. His win rate in the top flight fell to 31.9% — significantly below Rangnick's 41.7%.

The Portuguese coach did benefit from United's run to the 2025 Europa League final, memorably eliminating Athletic Club in the semi-finals. However, they were undone by Tottenham Hotspur in the final itself, bringing the curtain down on the darkest Premier League campaign in the club's history.

Prior to taking interim charge earlier this year, Carrick had also served as caretaker for three matches in late 2021 following Ole Gunnar Solskjær's dismissal, winning two and drawing one.

After inheriting Amorim's troubled squad in January, no side accumulated more points than United from the moment Carrick returned to the touchline through to the end of the season. The Red Devils won 12 of their 17 games, but their struggles this term have sent Carrick's win rate into a sharp decline.

It currently sits at 48.5% — still ahead of Amorim's, but moving in entirely the wrong direction.

How 2026–27 Carrick Compares to 2025–26 Amorim

While United's on-pitch performances disappointed during Amorim's second season, it was ultimately the breakdown in his relationship with Director of Football Jason Wilcox that sealed his fate.

Amorim left the club sitting sixth in the Premier League, having won 38% of his matches. It was a thoroughly average return, yet United supporters would now gladly settle for such mediocrity.

The situation at the start of the 2026–27 campaign is as dire as it has ever been. While many were quick to applaud the club's apparent shrewdness in reshaping their midfield on a budget, it has become increasingly clear that far too little was done to adequately prepare the Red Devils for a more gruelling season ahead.

United have managed just two wins from their opening 13 fixtures, both coming against newly promoted Ipswich Town and Champions League newcomers Sabah. Carrick's win rate this season has plummeted to 15.4%, and their goal difference stands at -7 following a combined eight-goal deficit across their three most recent losses.

Those who examined the underlying statistics during the second half of last season would argue that United's collapse this term was entirely foreseeable. According to The Guardian, United accumulated 12.7 more points than their expected tally under Carrick. Only Napoli (nine) recorded more one-goal victories than Carrick's United (eight).

It was always going to prove unsustainable, and ultimately, the summer transfer activity did little to address the underlying weaknesses in Carrick's system. If anything, those vulnerabilities have only been magnified.

Did Man Utd Ever Go Nine Games Without a Win Under Amorim?

One might ask: has it ever been this bleak? After all, this is Manchester United Football Club we're talking about.

A 2–0 loss to Chelsea — a match that briefly showed promise before descending into the very worst of Carrick's United — extended their winless streak across all competitions to nine matches. It marks their longest run without a victory since October and November 1988, when Sir Alex Ferguson endured eight draws and a defeat to Norwich City in a row. United finished 11th in the First Division that year.

So no, things never quite reached this level under Amorim — though the Portuguese manager did come close. Toward the end of the 2024–25 season, United went eight Premier League matches without a win, dropping as low as 16th, though they still had the Europa League as a lifeline.

During that barren domestic stretch — which included a heavy defeat at Newcastle United and a limp home loss to West Ham United — the Red Devils produced dramatic two-legged victories over Lyon and Athletic Club to reach the Europa League final.