West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City are all set to battle it out for former Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick.
Michael Carrick could soon make a return to the managerial world, as EFL Championship outfits West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City are both keen on appointing him as their next boss.
According to a report from Football Insider, West Brom and Birmingham City FC are set to battle it out for the services of the 44-year-old, who was sacked by Middlesbrough at the end of last season.
Michael Carrick started his managerial career at his former club, Manchester United. He was an assistant to Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before taking charge as an interim boss. He eventually left the club towards the end of 2021.
Middlesbrough, who were going through a very rough phase, appointed him as their boss towards the end of 2022. They wanted the Englishman to steady the ship as the club found themselves close to the bottom of the points table in the Championship.
The 44-year-old had an immediate impact and led to the playoffs for promotion. While they couldn’t secure promotion, it turned out to be a successful campaign for them. However, Michael Carrick could not deliver the desired results in the following seasons and was sacked last summer.
West Brom and Birmingham want Carrick
Michael Carrick has been on the lookout for his next opportunity ever since, and he could soon take charge at another Championship outfit as West Brom and Birmingham City are pushing for his signature.
Ryan Mason, who was expected to help West Brom secure promotion to the top flight, has underdelivered. The Baggies are 16th in the EFL Championship, and they are just six points above the drop zone.
With the club losing four out of their last five Championship games and winning just three out of the last 13, they are losing patience and could soon sack Mason. Carrick is seen as an ideal fit to replace him. Meanwhile, Birmingham also find themselves in a very similar situation.
The Blues are just one place and two points ahead of West Brom, and Chris Davies is also fighting for his job. Given the kind of impact Carrick had at Middlesbrough after taking charge mid-season, both Championship outfits believe he could help steady the ship and potentially push for a play-off spot.