The wife of potential Manchester United manager Michael Carrick was once at the centre of controversy
Chris Burns
16:42, 12 Jan 2026
Michael Carrick’s wife once publicly criticised Manchester United legend Roy Keane on social media. The former United midfielder and coach is set to take charge as interim manager until the end of the season following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal last week.
Carrick was previously in the dugout for United’s defeat to Olympiacos in 2014, after which his wife Lisa reacted angrily on X to comments made by former club captain Keane.
“Roy Keane what a **** says anything to provoke a reaction… That’s all… Done…” she wrote, before quickly deleting the post and replacing it.
She then wrote: "Deleted my tweet... Emotions got the better of me... Just disappointed." Keane had taken exception to Carrick's explanation for the defeat.
In classic fashion, Keane had said: "That interview was just like the performance: flat. He should say a bit more, have a bit more urgency, even in his interview. That just reflected United's performance tonight: flat, with no urgency."
Yet it's now Carrick who has emerged as the leading contender to become United's head coach for the remainder of the season, after the former midfielder impressed the club during face-to-face talks.
United have been leading the search for a replacement for Amorim and have held discussions with Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, while caretaker Darren Fletcher has also been under consideration.
The former Middlesbrough manager could even be appointed within the next few hours, with United eager to give Carrick ample time to prepare for the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime.
Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox were reportedly keen to appoint an interim head coach for the remainder of the season, with Fletcher in charge for the games against Burnley and Brighton.
Carrick met Berrada and Wilcox last Thursday, and Solskjaer held talks with the duo on Saturday. The Norwegian, who managed United for three years between November 2018 and November 2021, quickly emerged as the favourite and has been back in the north west since being sacked by Besiktas in August.
Meanwhile, Keane himself claimed he wanted Newcastle boss Eddie Howe to become United's next head coach in the summer. The Irishman said on Sky Sports: "I like what he's done, he's managed a lot of games, when his teams are it they play good football.
"I know he has his critics, but I like what he's done at Newcastle, even at Bournemouth. He's managed 700, 800 games. I like his calmness - I think Man Utd sometimes need a bit of that.
"I like people with emotion, I'm quite an emotional person, but his calmness, what he's done at Newcastle. Getting them into the Champions League, winning a Cup. I'd be happy to see him go in there."
Asked if the former Republic of Ireland captain could ever see himself managing United, Keane said: "No, not at this current time. The most important thing for me is happiness in the role, happiness in the job, the relationships I have with the people around me. Now, that's not always been consistently good and things can change at any football club. But, at the moment, I am very happy."