Michael Carrick has been appointed as Manchester United head coach until the end of the season, but who is his assistant, Steve Holland?
It was announced on Tuesday evening that Michael Carrick had won the race to become Manchester United’s head coach for the remainder of the season.
The England international’s last job was at Middlesbrough, where he spent two and a half years.
The man with a measured mind and methodical manner has been called upon once more – pipping Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the post – and will take his place in the dugout for the Manchester derby as United host Manchester City on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30.
Carrick has brought with him Steve Holland, who will serve as his assistant, while ex-teammate Jonny Evans, former colleague Jonathan Woodgate, and Travis Binnion complete the backroom staff.
What can Holland bring to United?
First and foremost, Steve Holland represents a shrewd selection by Carrick. He is a man who has seen the full spectrum of football, though Holland is not one for shortcuts.
Prior to his rapid rise to Chelsea’s first-team coaching staff, his career was forged at Crewe Alexandra, where he worked his way through every coaching role imaginable – from Under-9s manager to first-team boss.
In an interview with the FA, Holland said: “The key always with practice is the transfer into the game, and all the coaches I have worked with have reiterated that point. It is important to try to maximise the possibility of a transfer by not steering too far from the reality of the game.”
Though his point is simple, it could benefit United’s players. Since Ruben Amorim’s departure, reports have suggested the squad trained in a back four but was deployed in a back three on matchday.
Steve Holland is also meticulous in his training methods, he said: “It is important to try to find creative ways of delivering repetitive practice to stimulate the players’ interest, particularly when you have little time before games to prepare.”
Holland is the perfect second-in-command
United is a different beast – a club where pressure is permanent, and scrutiny is suffocating, where you either sink or swim.
The former Chelsea and England assistant carries a renowned reputation. “I have been fortunate to have had access to some of the game’s best brains – it’s the best way to learn.”Among those minds were Carlo Ancelotti and José Mourinho, two of the finest footballing figures
That experience matters. Holland has operated in elite environments where expectation eclipses everything else – Champions League nights, title races, and tournament football. He understands the rhythm of relentless schedules and the demands placed on players.
Holland appears the perfect second-in-command for a young manager like Carrick. Between them lies a balance of youth and experience.
Additionally, Carrick is a man who knows the club, its culture, and how it should be represented. Together, they offer a steady partnership capable of restoring structure and stability to Old Trafford.
The ex-midfield maestro had previously enjoyed a short stint as caretaker manager – a period in which Manchester United remained unbeaten. Should he succeed in masterminding similar results this time around, it would do United’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League the world of good.
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