For the first time in a decade, the Manchester derby did not feature Pep Guardiola, with the legendary coach having stepped down from his role at Manchester City at the conclusion of last season.
In his place stepped Enzo Maresca, his former City assistant and ex-Chelsea boss, who waltzed into Old Trafford on Sunday with confidence, unbeaten in his start to life in the Premier League as the Cityzens’ new head coach.
In the opposite dugout, Maresca came up against a familiar face in Michael Carrick, a manager he has battled against before—though not in the Premier League, and not while Carrick has been in charge of Manchester United.
Maresca’s side proved the stronger on Sunday, prevailing over Carrick’s toothless men despite playing a man down for 70 minutes. The Italian boss will be gleeful not only to place the metaphorical crown of Manchester on his head, but to change his fate in matches played against Carrick.
Here’s how all the two managers’ previous meetings have played out.
Middlesbrough 1–0 Leicester City (Nov. 11, 2023)
It was Carrick who came out on top when the two coaches first met back in November 2023 in the English Championship.
Meeting at Boro’s Riverside Stadium in the second tier, a solitary goal from Sam Greenwood in the 83rd minute was enough to seal all three points for Carrick’s side.
It wasn’t just your average goal, either. It was a superb, curled free kick from long range that sailed into the top corner and was later voted the club’s Goal of the Season by fans.
The rest of the game, however, was far from as beautiful as Greenwood’s effort. It was a terribly scrappy affair, with seven bookings and a massive 33 fouls committed.
Leicester City 1–2 Middlesbrough (Feb. 17, 2024)
In the return fixture later in the season at the King Power Stadium, it was again Middlesbrough and Carrick who came out on top, this time winning 2–1.
First-half goals from Finn Azaz and Sam Silvera sent Boro into a 2–0 lead at the break, which they held on to until the 85th minute, when Jamie Vardy netted to set up a tense finish.
Boro held on, though, with the three points moving Carrick’s side up to 11th in the table. Despite the defeat, Maresca’s side remained top of the table—a position they would ultimately hold until the conclusion of the campaign, when they won the title and earned promotion to the Premier League.
Manchester United 0–1 Manchester City (Sept. 13, 2026)
The first Manchester derby of the new 2026–27 season was largely centered around one incident: the red card shown to Phil Foden in the 23rd minute.
City’s right winger had gotten in a tussle with United midfielder Bruno Fernandes near the sideline, seeing the latter kick the backside of the City academy graduate, which prompted Foden to retaliate with a two-legged kick into Fernandes’s stomach. While Fernandes went undisciplined, Foden was shown the exit door.
The Cityzens played the majority of the game with just 10 men, but still came out on top against Carrick’s uninspired side. Erling Haaland proved the difference-maker, as he usually does, blasting the ball to the back post in the 60th minute on his one and only shot of the game.
The way Maresca outclassed Carrick tactically cannot be ignored, overcoming a huge disadvantage. “[The red card] changed the plan for us but also changed the plan for them,” Maresca said post-match. “They are unbelievable in transition, and the moment we went to 10 men we didn’t give them any transition.”
Michael Carrick vs. Enzo Maresca Head-to-Head Record
- Michael Carrick : 2 wins
- Enzo Maresca : 1 win
- Draws : 0
Goals Scored
- Teams managed by Michael Carrick : 3
- Teams manager by Enzo Maresca : 2
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