Michael Carrick is the 45-year-old former Manchester United midfielder whose return to Old Trafford as head coach ended in dismissal on 12 November 2026, months after he was handed the job permanently. Sacked with United 18th in the Premier League after one win in 10 league games, he became the seventh permanent manager dismissed by the club since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
It was a brutal end to a second spell that had begun so brightly. Appointed on an interim basis in January 2026, Carrick guided United to third place and a return to the Champions League, earning a two-year contract in May. This biography covers his age, height, career, wife Lisa Roughead, net worth and the 2026-27 collapse.
| Full Name | Michael Carrick |
| Date of Birth | 28 July 1981 |
| Age | 45 years old (as of November 2026) |
| Height | 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) |
| Birthplace | Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England |
| Occupation | Football manager and former midfielder |
| Known For | 12 years at Manchester United; five Premier League titles; 2008 Champions League; sacked as United head coach on 12 November 2026 |
| Spouse | Lisa Roughead (married 16 June 2007) |
| Net Worth 2026 | Estimated $16–25 million (media estimates) — see Net Worth section below |
Early Life
Michael Carrick was born on 28 July 1981 in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, to Vince and Lynn Carrick, and has a younger brother, Graeme. A boyhood Newcastle United fan, he started playing organised football at four with Wallsend Boys Club, where his father volunteered, and at nine he had trials with several clubs, including Arsenal and Chelsea.
Carrick joined West Ham United’s youth set-up in 1997. He had played as a centre-forward during his school years and only moved into midfield at West Ham. In 1999 he was part of the West Ham youth side that won the FA Youth Cup, scoring twice in a 9-0 aggregate final win over Coventry City.
Playing Career
Carrick made his West Ham debut in a UEFA Intertoto Cup tie against Jokerit on 24 July 1999, and his league debut followed five weeks later. Loan spells at Swindon Town, where he scored his first professional goal, and Birmingham City came in his first season before he broke into the first team in 2000-01. West Ham were relegated in 2003, and while teammates such as Joe Cole and Jermain Defoe left, Carrick stayed for a season in the First Division, earning a place in the PFA Team of the Year as West Ham lost the 2004 play-off final to Crystal Palace.
Tottenham Hotspur signed him for around £3.5 million in August 2004. After a slow start under Jacques Santini, he became a regular under Martin Jol, and in July 2006 Manchester United signed him for £14 million, potentially rising to £18.6 million, as Sir Alex Ferguson’s replacement for the departed Roy Keane. He took Keane’s No. 16 shirt and won the Premier League in his first season, 2006-07, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
Over 12 years at Old Trafford, Carrick made 464 appearances and won five Premier League titles, the 2008 Champions League, in which he played the full 120 minutes of the final against Chelsea and converted his penalty in the shootout, the 2016 FA Cup, the 2017 Europa League, two League Cups and the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup. He captained the club in his final season, 2017-18, and was given a testimonial in June 2017. For England he won 34 caps between 2001 and 2015 without scoring, and played at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, in the midfield role now filled by players such as Jude Bellingham.
Managerial Career
Carrick moved straight into coaching after retiring in 2018, joining Jose Mourinho’s staff at United and later working under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. When Solskjaer was sacked in November 2021, Carrick took charge as caretaker and went unbeaten in three games, beating Villarreal and Arsenal and drawing at Chelsea, before leaving when Ralf Rangnick arrived that December.
His first permanent job came at Middlesbrough in October 2022, with the club 21st in the Championship. He won 18 of his first 27 games and lifted Boro to fourth, though they lost the play-off semi-final to Coventry City. Boro finished eighth in 2023-24, reaching the EFL Cup semi-finals, and 10th in 2024-25, after which Carrick was sacked in June 2025.
United came calling again in January 2026 after Ruben Amorim was sacked on 5 January. Carrick was appointed head coach on 13 January, initially until the end of the season, and his first game was a 2-0 Manchester derby win over City. He won 12 of the remaining 17 league games as United finished third and returned to the Champions League, and on 22 May 2026 he was confirmed as permanent head coach on a two-year contract. The 2026-27 season collapsed: United won once in 10 league games and three of 15 in all competitions, and sat 18th on eight points after a 4-4 home draw with Aston Villa. The club confirmed his departure on 12 November 2026, saying a change was necessary “in order to achieve our ambitions”, and reports said United States coach Mauricio Pochettino had reached a verbal agreement to succeed him, though the club had not confirmed a successor at the time of writing.
Personal Life
Carrick is married to Lisa Roughead, a Pilates instructor with a business degree, whom he began dating while they were both at school. They married in Wymondham, Leicestershire, on 16 June 2007 and have a daughter and a son. The family keeps a low profile, and Carrick has rarely discussed his private life in public.
In 2018 he published his autobiography, Between the Lines, covering his playing career and the move into coaching. He remains closely associated with Manchester United despite the sacking, having spent 12 years there as a player plus further spells on the coaching staff, and his next move in management is now the open question after a second Old Trafford exit.
Michael Carrick Net Worth 2026
Michael Carrick’s net worth has not been officially disclosed, and published estimates vary. Celebrity-finance sites put it at roughly $16 million to $25 million, with some citing $16.5 million and others around $25 million. No single figure is reliable enough to state as fact, so the range is given here with attribution, and outlier figures circulating online, including one of $165,000 and one of $3.8 billion, are not credible.
His wealth was built across a 19-year playing career, including 12 seasons at Manchester United, followed by coaching and managerial contracts at Middlesbrough and Manchester United, plus income from his 2018 autobiography. His two-year contract as United’s permanent head coach, signed in May 2026, was reported to run until 2028, and its terms were not disclosed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Michael Carrick?
Michael Carrick is 45 years old. He was born on 28 July 1981 in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England.
Why was Michael Carrick sacked by Manchester United?
Carrick was sacked on 12 November 2026 after a disastrous start to the 2026-27 season: one win in 10 Premier League games, three wins in 15 matches in all competitions, and United 18th on eight points, in the relegation zone. The club said a change was necessary “in order to achieve our ambitions”. Reports say United States coach Mauricio Pochettino has reached a verbal agreement to take over, but the club had not confirmed a successor at the time of writing.
How tall is Michael Carrick?
Michael Carrick is 6 feet 2 inches tall (1.88 m).
Who is Michael Carrick’s wife?
His wife is Lisa Roughead, a Pilates instructor with a business degree. They began dating while both were at school and married in Wymondham, Leicestershire, on 16 June 2007. They have a daughter and a son.
What trophies did Michael Carrick win at Manchester United?
Carrick won five Premier League titles (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013), the 2008 Champions League, the 2016 FA Cup, the 2017 Europa League, two League Cups and the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup. He is one of only two English players, alongside Wayne Rooney, to have won every major honour available to an English club player.
What is Michael Carrick’s net worth in 2026?
His net worth has not been officially disclosed. Media estimates range from around $16 million to $25 million, built on a 19-year playing career, including 12 seasons at Manchester United, and coaching and managerial contracts at Middlesbrough and Manchester United.
