Michael Carrick has reached a verbal agreement to become Manchester United’s interim head coach, stepping into one of the most scrutinised roles in world football and returning to the club where he spent the most successful years of his playing career.

Talks between Carrick and the club hierarchy stretched late into Monday night as both sides worked through the final details of the arrangement. Those discussions resolved the key outstanding issues, clearing the way for lawyers to finalise the contract. Carrick is expected to sign the deal imminently, formalising his appointment through to the end of the current season.

The former United midfielder reported to the club’s Carrington training complex early on Tuesday to meet director of football Jason Wilcox and other senior figures. That visit marks the beginning of his transition from admired ex player and promising coach to the man charged with stabilising a team that has struggled for consistency and identity.

United’s board had held discussions with both Carrick and former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as they considered short term options. In the end, they opted for Carrick, whose growing reputation as a tactically astute, modern coach has been enhanced by his work at Middlesbrough and by his previous spells on the United coaching staff.

Carrick’s first assignment could hardly be more demanding. His debut in the dugout is set to come in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, a fixture that often shapes the mood around the club for weeks. The derby will provide an immediate and unforgiving examination of his ideas, his authority and his ability to coax a reaction from a squad that has underperformed.

For supporters, Carrick’s return to a leading role at United carries a strong emotional pull. Signed from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006, he became one of the quiet pillars of Sir Alex Ferguson’s last great side. Over 12 years at the club, he won multiple Premier League titles and the Champions League, earning a reputation as a cerebral midfielder who dictated tempo rather than dominated headlines.

That understated intelligence has translated into his coaching career. After retiring as a player, Carrick joined United’s backroom staff, working under Jose Mourinho and later Solskjaer. He even took temporary charge of the first team during a brief caretaker spell, overseeing a short unbeaten run that hinted at his potential in the top job.

It was at Middlesbrough, however, that Carrick truly began to shape a managerial identity of his own. Taking over a side drifting in the Championship, he implemented a clear, proactive style of play that quickly transformed their performances and results. His Boro team became known for their tactical flexibility and their ability to control games both with and without the ball.

Statistically, Middlesbrough under Carrick were among the most aggressive and inventive sides in the division. They led the league in high turnovers and fast breaks, a sign of an organised press and a team drilled to spring forward the moment possession was regained. At the same time, they ranked near the top for build up attacks and direct attacks, an unusual combination that underlined Carrick’s willingness to mix patient possession with sudden, vertical surges.

Formationally, Carrick showed a preference for a 4-2-3-1 system, the shape that has become almost synonymous with modern attacking football. It offers a double pivot in midfield for control and protection, a central playmaker to link lines and wide forwards who can stretch the pitch. On several occasions, he reverted to a classic 4-4-2, echoing the structure that Ferguson used so successfully at Old Trafford. He also experimented with a back three at times, though less frequently, suggesting he values adaptability but has a clear default approach.

Those tactical habits offer clues as to what United players and fans can expect. Carrick is likely to install a 4-2-3-1 with an assertive press, asking his forwards and attacking midfielders to hunt the ball high up the pitch. In possession, his teams tend to build from the back with composure, drawing opponents forward before exploiting the space behind with quick switches of play and incisive long passes.

For a United side that has often looked caught between conflicting styles, that clarity could be crucial. Carrick’s challenge will be to impose structure without stifling the individual flair that has long been part of the club’s identity. His background as a deep lying playmaker may also influence how he uses his midfielders, placing a premium on positional discipline, passing angles and control of transitions.

Inside the dressing room, Carrick’s status as a former United stalwart may help him command respect from the outset. Many of the current squad grew up watching him anchor the midfield in title winning sides. Yet that familiarity can cut both ways. He must quickly establish himself not as a former teammate or friendly coach, but as the clear leader of the project, capable of making tough selection calls and reshaping the hierarchy if necessary.