Carlisle United have had over 40 managers since the club was founded in 1904. Amongst others they include Bill Shankly, a former United player who went on to make Liverpool Football League champions three times, Alan Ashman, who took Carlisle to the top of The Football League and Michael Knighton who in 1997 took over the management role while he was chairman.
Information correct as of 17 January 2019.
| Name | Nationality | To | HonoursHonours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Simpson | 23 February 2022 | Present | EFL League Two play-off winners: 2022–23 | |
| Keith Millen | 26 October 2021 | 23 February 2022 | ||
| Gavin Skelton (Caretaker) | 10 October 2021 | 26 October 2021 | ||
| Chris Beech | 26 November 2019 | 10 October 2021 | ||
| Gavin Skelton (Caretaker) | 13 November 2019 | 26 November 2019 | ||
| Steven Pressley | 16 January 2019 | 13 November 2019 | ||
| Tommy Wright Paul Murray (Caretaker) | 4 January 2019 | 16 January 2019 | ||
| John Sheridan | 5 June 2018 | 4 January 2019 | ||
| Colin West (Caretaker) | 8 May 2018 | 5 June 2018 | ||
| Keith Curle | 19 September 2014 | 8 May 2018 | ||
| Tony Caig Paul Thirlwell (Caretaker) | 1 September 2014 | 19 September 2014 | ||
| Graham Kavanagh | 1 October 2013 | 1 September 2014 | ||
| Graham Kavanagh Davie Irons Tony Caig (Caretaker) | 9 September 2013 | 1 October 2013 | ||
| Greg Abbott | 5 December 2008 | 9 September 2013 | Football League Trophy Winners: 2010/2011 Runners-up: 2009/2010 | |
| Greg Abbott (Caretaker) | 3 November 2008 | 5 December 2008 | ||
| John Ward | October 2007 | 3 November 2008 | ||
| Greg Abbott (Caretaker) | 13 August 2007 | October 2007 | ||
| Neil McDonald | 17 June 2006 | 13 August 2007 | ||
| Paul Simpson | 29 August 2003 | 17 June 2006 | League Two championship Winners: 2005/2006 Football League Trophy Runners-up: 2005/2006 Football Conference promotion play-off Winners: 2004/2005 | |
| Roddy Collins[1] | July 2002 | August 2003 | Football League Trophy Runners-up: 2002/2003 | |
| Billy Barr (Caretaker) | April 2002 | July 2002 | ||
| Roddy Collins | July 2001 | April 2002 | ||
| Ian Atkins | 2000 | 2001 | ||
| Martin Wilkinson | 25 June 1999 | 10 May 2000 | ||
| Keith Mincher[2] | 18 June 1999 | 25 June 1999 | ||
| Nigel Pearson | 1998 | 1999 | ||
| Michael Knighton Dave Wilkes John Halpin | 1997 | 1998 | ||
| Dave Wilkes(Caretaker) | 1997 | 1997 | ||
| Mervyn Day | 1996 | 1997 | Football League Second Division Third Runners-up: 1996/1997 Football League Trophy Winners: 1996/1997 | |
| Mick Wadsworth | 1993 | 1996 | Football League Second Division Winners: 1994/1995 Football League Trophy Runners-up: 1995/1996 | |
| David McCreery | 1992 | 1994 | ||
| Aidan McCaffery | 1991 | 1992 | ||
| Clive Middlemass | 1987 | 1991 | ||
| Harry Gregg | 1986 | 1987 | ||
| Bob Stokoe | 1985 | 1986 | ||
| Pop Robson | 1985 | 1985 | ||
| Bob Stokoe | 1980 | 1985 | Football League Third Division Runners-up: 1981/1982 | |
| Martin Harvey | 1980 | 1980 | ||
| Bobby Moncur | 1976 | 1980 | ||
| Dick Young | 1975 | 1976 | ||
| Alan Ashman | 1972 | 1975 | Football League Second Division Third Runners-up: 1973/1974 | |
| Ian MacFarlane | 1970 | 1972 | ||
| Bob Stokoe | 1968 | 1970 | ||
| Tim Ward | 1967 | 1968 | ||
| Alan Ashman | 1963 | 1967 | Football League Third Division Winners: 1964/1965 Football League Fourth Division Runners-up: 1963/1964 | |
| Ivor Powell | 1960 | 1963 | ||
| Andy Beattie | 1958 | 1960 | ||
| Fred Emery | 1951 | 1958 | ||
| Bill Shankly | 1949 | 1951 | ||
| Ivor Broadis | 1946 | 1949 | ||
| Bill Clarke (Secretary-Manager) | (n/a) | 1945 | 1946 | |
| Howard Harkness | (n/a) | 1940 | 1945 | |
| David Taylor | 1938 | 1940 | ||
| Fred Westgarth | 1936 | 1938 | ||
| Bob Kelly | 1935 | 1936 | ||
| Bill Clarke | (n/a) | 1933 | 1935 | |
| Billy Hampson | 1930 | 1933 | ||
| George Bistow | (n/a) | 1913 | 1930 | North Eastern League Winners: 1921/1922 Runners-up: 1927/1928 |
| Dave Graham | (n/a) | 1912 | 1913 | |
| Jack Houston | (n/a) | 1910 | 1912 | |
| Bert Stansfield | 1908 | 1910 | ||
| Jack Houston (Secretary-Manager) | (n/a) | 1906 | 1908 | Lancashire Combination Division Two Winners: 1906/1907 Lancashire Combination Division One Runners-up: 1907/1908 |
| McCumiskey (Secretary-Manager) | (n/a) | 1905 | 1906 | |
| Harry Kirkbride (Secretary-Manager) | (n/a) | 1904 | 1905 |