 On 26 May 2008, it was announced that Joyce would leave Antwerp for Manchester United, where he would be co-managing the reserves along with former United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjær.He took sole charge in December 2010, when Solskjær left to manage Molde FK.In November 2011, Joyce was linked with a possible return to Hull City as a replacement for Nigel Pearson, but ultimately opted to remain at Manchester United.