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Michael Carrick appears to have overseen his final game in the Manchester United dugout after the Red Devils suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
The result left United without a victory in eight games across all competitions and have won just one of their opening eight Premier League fixtures this season.
The Red Devils are a long way from the side that finished third in the league last term, when Carrick's arrival on a temporary basis in January sparked a remarkable turnaround and ultimately earned him the job on a permanent basis in the summer.
The former United midfielder has endured a torrid spell in the dugout since, leaving supporters frustrated after once singing his name in praise and yearning to see him given the job permanently.
Against Bournemouth, goals from Rayan, Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson left United 16th in the table, just one point above the relegation zone, after Carrick left captain Bruno Fernandes out of the lineup following his controversial comments after the red Devils’ Champions League defeat at Como four days earlier.
Fans still sang Carrick's name late on, but much of their anger was directed at the club's owners, with chants about the proposed new stadium and director of football Jason Wilcox ringing around Old Trafford.
It is a far cry from Carrick's 12-year playing career at the club, during which he won five Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League, earning a chant of his own that was later revived when he returned to the dugout.
For everything you need to know about the Carrick chant, including the lyrics and tune, read on.
Michael Carrick chant lyrics and tune
The Michael Carrick chant is short and simple, with the version below remaining the best-known rendition sung by United supporters:
It's Carrick, you know,
It's hard to believe it's not Scholes,
It's Carrick, you know.
The chant is sung to the tune of Magic, the 1974 hit by Pilot.
Michael Carrick chant background
The chant first emerged during the 2012-13 season, around six years after Carrick joined United from Tottenham Hotspur, by which point the midfielder had established himself as an important figure despite often receiving less attention than some of his team-mates.
Paul Scholes was approaching his mid-to-late-30s at the time, while Carrick was dictating the tempo of Sir Alex Ferguson's side with the passing range that had made his fellow midfielder such a revered figure, which is precisely what the lyrics celebrate.
In his autobiography, Between the Lines, Carrick recalled first becoming aware of the chant during United's trip to Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on February 23, 2013, describing it as a moment he would never forget.
The song soon spread beyond Old Trafford, with even former Manchester City defender Micah Richards filmed singing it on the way to an FA Cup semi-final.
The chant enjoyed a revival in 2026 when Carrick returned to United as caretaker manager and guided the team to impressive victories over Manchester City and league leaders Arsenal.
The chant remains part of the Old Trafford atmosphere and has earned its place among the best-known songs in the modern football chant songbook.
Man United fans singing the Michael Carrick chant
FGG says: A chant that has outlived the player
In many ways, the Carrick chant began as a long-overdue tribute to a player whose influence often went underappreciated before taking on a new meaning when supporters began backing him for the manager's job.
Whatever happens in the dugout from here, the song remains a reminder of the affection United fans have for one of their former midfielders, and it is likely to be heard around the Stretford End long after his time in charge comes to an end.