Michael Carrick has received the Premier League Manager of the Month award for January. Brentford striker Igor Thiago has been named the Premier League Player of the Month Award winner for the same period. Both honours follow standout January performances that boosted Manchester United’s top-four push and strengthened Brentford’s position.

Carrick’s Manchester United side put together four consecutive league victories after the change in leadership. The run included a 2-0 win over Manchester City and a 3-2 success at Arsenal in January. A 1-1 draw with West Ham on Tuesday ended that streak, with Benjamin Sesko scoring late.

United’s improved form under Carrick has moved the team into the Premier League’s top four positions. Manchester United sit one point ahead of Chelsea and three points clear of Liverpool, who occupy sixth place. This surge has followed Carrick’s appointment as interim head coach after Ruben Amorim’s dismissal on January 5.

The club’s upturn has drawn wider attention, reflected in league recognition and coverage on social media.

Carrick’s tactical decisions during January have been central to United’s stronger defensive structure and sharper attacking output.

Igor Thiago’s numbers in January supported the Premier League Player of the Month Award decision. Thiago scored five league goals, including a hat-trick against Everton. No player managed more goals during that month, while Thiago also led the division in expected goals with a 4.2 figure.

Only Fulham’s Harry Wilson recorded more shots than Thiago in the Premier League last month, with 18 compared to Thiago’s 17. It was also a positive Friday for Thiago off the pitch, as Brentford confirmed a new long-term contract running until 2031, rewarding January’s Premier League Player of the Month Award form.