Wayne Rooney Endorses Michael Carrick as Manchester United's Caretaker Coach
Wayne Rooney has expressed his belief that Michael Carrick is the "right choice at this moment in time" to help "steady the ship" at Manchester United.
Manchester United announced on Tuesday that Carrick would serve as caretaker head coach for the remainder of the season, succeeding Ruben Amorim.
Rooney and Carrick, who were teammates at Old Trafford, played together in 366 matches and secured five Premier League titles during their time together.
On the latest episode of BBC's The Wayne Rooney Show, Rooney stated, "It is probably the obvious choice really because I don't think there are any top, top managers available at the minute. I think it is the right choice at this moment in time. It is a difficult task of course. Where Manchester United are at the minute is not a good place and Michael has to go in and steady the ship."
Carrick's temporary appointment raises questions about who the board will consider for a permanent role in the summer. Names like Xabi Alonso, who recently departed Real Madrid, and England manager Thomas Tuchel have already surfaced as potential candidates.
Rooney remarked, "Alonso did incredible at Leverkusen, and I think you have more chance of him sitting and waiting and hoping with [Liverpool manager Arne] Slot. Tuchel is the one for me. He knows the Premier League, has won trophies. He is doing well with England. Time will tell."
Don't Be Fooled by Carrick's Calmness
Carrick, who made 464 appearances for United over a 12-year career, previously had a brief stint as caretaker manager in 2021, where he won two out of three matches. The 44-year-old also managed Middlesbrough from 2002 to 2005.
Rooney emphasized Carrick's character, saying, "Michael's great fun. He is a great character, but don't be fooled by how calm he looks. He can have fun as well, but make no mistake, he'd be going in there now with full focus."
Currently, Manchester United is positioned seventh in the Premier League, having secured only one victory in their last six matches. Carrick's first challenge will be a crucial match against Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday at 12:30 GMT.
Rooney noted, "It is a massive game for the club, for Michael. I think what he will do is bring a bit of calmness, a bit of grit to the game, which I think is needed. It is going to be very difficult; Manchester City are obviously a top team, and it will be challenging to get anything out of it even at Old Trafford. But as we've seen over the years, if Manchester United turn up, they can win the game, and hopefully, that happens on Saturday."
Carrick and Holland Will Bring Organization
Carrick has appointed former England assistant Steve Holland as his deputy, alongside Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans, and Travis Binnion as part of his coaching staff. Holland previously worked under Gareth Southgate, contributing to England's fourth-place finish at the 2018 World Cup and their runner-up position at Euro 2020 and 2024.
Rooney stated, "I was really impressed with him tactically at England, how he worked and his organization. Steve Holland did all the training; Gareth Southgate didn't really, he'd be more the manager and Steve took all the sessions. I think what they will bring, Michael and Steve, is an organization to Manchester United, and I'm sure we’ll see on Saturday that they'll be harder to beat."