Michael Carrick is in pole position to earn the Manchester United job on a full-time basis after winning seven of his 10 matches as interim manager – and a consensus is building among the pundits
Michael Carrick is doing his utmost to secure the job (Image: OLI SCARFF, AFP via Getty Images)
Michael Carrick is building a strong case to earn the Manchester United manager’s job on a full-time basis – and a consensus is beginning to form among ex-players about the decision awaiting the club hierarchy this summer.
Carrick was appointed as interim manager in January, beating ex-boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the role. He has galvanised the team, moving them from sixth to third in the Premier League by taking 23 of a possible 30 points from his 10 games in charge.
Having sacked Ruben Amorim, United stated their intention to hire a full-time manager in the summer. Director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada are leading the process but are yet to formally speak to any candidates.
With seven games left of the season and United on course for a place in the Champions League under Carrick, the former midfielder is emerging as the most popular option. Here Mirror Football takes a look at what club legends have had to say on the subject.
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“I think Michael’s got experience,” he told talkSPORT. “I think he’s got a calmness about him that he’s brought into the club. He knows the club. He knows the players. He knows the way Man United play and the way Man United should play.
“And I’ve always liked Michael as a coach. You know, when you look at him, there’s a calmness. There’s, on the side of the pitch, there’s, I don’t want to say elegance because I’m not sure that’s the right thing to say, but there’s an elegance in the way he is, whether it’s the way he celebrates, whether it’s the way he gets angry.
“You know, all of those things are important in a manager. And I think that the way he’s got the team and brought the team together has been, has been incredible. And I think as a United fan, it’s exactly what we needed.”
David Beckham has been impressed by Michael Carrick(Image: Shaun Clark, Getty Images)
Roy Keane
He told Sky Sports: “I wouldn’t (give him the job). I think there’s better options out there. I think the games where he’s come in and in terms of winning football matches, he’s done a very good job. He’s obviously simplified things but there’s been no jeopardy in those games.
“They’ve had three weeks to prepare for the matches. It’s been good timing for him to go in there and he’s done a very good job. I take my hat off to him and if he does get the job in the summer I’ll say, ‘Listen, good luck to you’, but I think there are far better options out there for the next manager of Manchester United.”
In January he said: “I’d go with Eddie Howe. I like him. I like what he’s done. He’s managed a lot of games. When his teams are at it, they’ll play good football. He has his critics, but I like what he’s done at Newcastle.
“He’s managed 700 or 800 games. He’s still a young man. I love his calmness. Maybe Man Utd need a little bit of that. We’ve seen with our previous [appointments], we like people with emotions, but he’s got that calmness. The job he’s done at Newcastle, Champions League and winning a cup, I’d be happy to see him go in there.”
Roy Keane is one of the only ex-Manchester United players not to back Michael Carrick(Image: YouTube/Stick to Football)
Wayne Rooney
“100 per cent he should [get the job],” he told BBC Radio 5 Live recently. “I knew this was going to happen with Michael Carrick. I know him very well. I know his character and his personality.
“It needed a calm head, but someone who knows the place. The players needed some love, and he has given them that. We have seen the players play with more quality, more together as a team, and they look like a very strong team. Why would you change?”
Gary Neville
“If he gets United into the Champions League there will be a lot of fever around that he should be appointed,” he said in February. “I’m not against him being appointed, I love him to bits. But I think Manchester United should go for the best class of manager available.
“They’ve had young and inexperienced managers in the last two picks. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has come in before as an ex-player and that didn’t work in the end. So I feel removing as much risk as possible is the right option.”
Michael Carrick is focused on the job in-hand(Image: AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
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Ryan Giggs
“Yeah, I mean Michael’s a good friend, so I’m a bit biased, but I think he’s done a fantastic job,” he told Gold Star Promotions recently. “Confidence is up and there’s a real good feel factor around the place. And I think he’s improved the players in a short space of time.
“So yeah, I’ve been really impressed and nothing surprises me, obviously know Michael really well as a player and now as a coach. And yeah, I hope he gets the job.
Paul Scholes
“I don’t know what Michael’s coaching style is like but I can imagine as a man-manager he’s very good because he’s brilliant with people and players,” he said on his podcast at the start of March. “The question over Michael is does he have the experience? I know he’s managed in the Championship but this is obviously different.
“Now the perfect one out there… Ancelotti is still out there, I know he’s with Brazil, but he’s that perfect one for Manchester United where you think he would make players feel a million dollars and he’s got the experience of winning trophies.
“The only question would be is he too old? That’s the only thing, is there anyone else of that ilk with a bit more experience? The way you judge a Manchester United manager is to look ahead and think, ‘can United win the league with this manager?’ It’s not a case of finishing in the top-four, you need a manager who you think can win you the Premier League.
“The great thing someone like Ancelotti has is experience – I know that sounds obvious – but we don’t know yet how Michael Carrick will deal with going through a bit of adversity.”
Nicky Butt
“If I was a betting man I’d be putting my money on Carrick being the permanent manager,” he said in conversation with Scholes. “How can you sit here now and say he shouldn’t get the job? There’s not that many other options, who else would they go for? There’s nobody jumping out for me.
“I honestly thought it would be Thomas Tuchel but then he signed a new deal with England so that’s off the table. So if you look at what Michael Carrick is doing and then the other options out there, I think he gets the job now.”
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