Carrick has already made his first unpopular decision as Man Utd legend snubbed

Michael Carrick will imminently become Manchester United’s new interim manager, and has reportedly overlooked Wayne Rooney in favour of his long-time collaborator.

After sacking Ruben Amorim last week, INEOS have decided to delay the appointment of a permanent head coach until the summer.

But with the team still in the midst of a razor-tight battle for a Champions League spot, picking a caretaker has been an equally delicate matter, as the decision will have major ramifications for the club from a sporting and financial perspective.

After several days of deliberation, the club directors have finally rendered their decision, giving the nod to Carrick.

Wayne Rooney interested in joining Michael Carrick’s Man Utd staff

The 44-year-old reportedly made a positive impact during his interview, proving to be a more suitable option than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

While Carrick is expected to be officially appointed on Tuesday, Ben Jacobs also revealed that Darren Fletcher, who has been in charge in the last seven days, could remain as part of the technical staff.

However, the Scotsman is unlikely to be the assistant manager, nor will Wayne Rooney.

(Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)

United’s all-time top scorer has publicly offered his services to his old employers, expressing his desire to work alongside Carrick.

“Of course, it’s a no-brainer,” said the retired striker when asked whether he’d be interested in collaborating with his old teammate.

“I’m not begging for a job here. Just so everyone knows, if I was asked to go in of course I would.”

Carrick aiming to bring Jonathan Woodgate on board

While a large section of the fanbase would be thrilled to see Rooney joining the technical staff, several sources, including The Sun journalist Samuel Luckhurst, believe that Carrick is more interested in a reunion with Jonathan Woodgate, who acted as his second in command during his managerial stint at Middlesbrough between 2022 and 2025.

The 45-year-old had stints at Real Madrid and Tottenham, but he is considered a Leeds United legend, so his arrival at Carrington might irritate a section of the MUFC fanbase. But at this stage, it remains to be seen whether the management will satisfy the new head coach’s request.

In any case, Carrick had reportedly made it clear that he’s willing to work with what he’ll be given, so Woodgate’s fate wouldn’t be a deal-breaker in any case.