Wayne Rooney Backs Michael Carrick as 'Right Choice' for Manchester United

Wayne Rooney Backs Michael Carrick as ‘Right Choice’ for Manchester United

Wayne Rooney has expressed his support for Michael Carrick, stating that the caretaker head coach is the “right choice at this moment in time” to “steady the ship” at Manchester United.

United confirmed Carrick’s appointment until the end of the season on Tuesday, following the departure of Ruben Amorim. Rooney and Carrick, former team-mates at Old Trafford, played together on 366 occasions and won five Premier League titles.

“It is probably the obvious choice really because I don’t think there are any top, top managers available at the minute,” Rooney said on the latest edition of BBC podcast The Wayne Rooney Show. “I think it is the right choice at this moment in time.”

Rooney acknowledged the challenges ahead for Carrick, noting that Manchester United is “not a good place” at the moment. Carrick’s short-term appointment still leaves questions around who the board will turn to in the summer.

Among the names suggested for the permanent role are Xabi Alonso, who recently left Real Madrid, and England manager Thomas Tuchel.

“Alonso did incredible at Leverkusen and I think you have more chance of him sitting and waiting and hoping with [Liverpool manager Arne] Slot,” Rooney said. “Tuchel is the one for me. He knows the Premier League, has won trophies. He is doing well at England. Time will tell.”

Carrick made 464 appearances for United across a 12-year spell and had a three-game stint as caretaker manager at the club in 2021, winning two games and drawing one. The 44-year-old also managed Middlesbrough between 2002 and 2005.

“Michael’s great fun. He is a great character, but don’t be fooled by how calm he looks,” Rooney said. “He can have fun as well, but make no mistake, he’d be going in there now with full focus.”

Manchester United currently sit seventh in the Premier League after winning just one of their past six games. Carrick’s first assignment comes on Saturday (12:30 GMT) when Manchester City make the short trip to Old Trafford.

“It is a massive game for the club, for Michael,” Rooney said. “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 difficult to get anything out of it even at Old Trafford.”

Carrick has brought former England assistant Steve Holland in as his number two, with Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans, and Travis Binnion also part of his staff. Holland worked under Gareth Southgate when England finished fourth at the 2018 World Cup and were runners-up at Euro 2020 and 2024.

“I was really impressed him tactically at England, how he worked and his organisation,” Rooney said. “Steve Holland did all the training, Gareth Southgate didn’t really, he’d be more the manager and Steve took all the sessions.”

Rooney believes that Carrick and Holland will bring organization to Manchester United and expects the team to be harder to beat in their upcoming match against Manchester City.

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