Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has thrown his support behind Michael Carrick, insisting the young English coach deserves more respect for the work he has done at the club.
Speaking in an interview, Rooney praised Carrick’s impact and questioned why some people remain doubtful about his ability to lead Manchester United long-term.
“If you brought in a Luis Enrique or Thomas Tuchel and they won 10 of their first 14 games you would say that’s incredible,” Rooney said. “So, just because Michael Carrick is a young, English manager it means it’s not the right place to look in a lot of people’s eyes.”
Carrick, a former Manchester United midfielder, has impressed many supporters since stepping into a major coaching role at the club. Michael Carrick was appointed as Manchester United’s head coach (interim) on January 13, 2026, for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
Previously, he served as a first-team coach and assistant from 2018–2021, and as caretaker manager for three games in November 2021 following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s departure.
The former England international has been praised for bringing calmness, discipline, and stability to a team that has struggled for consistency in recent years.
Rooney believes Carrick’s intelligence and understanding of the club make him a strong candidate to lead the team into the future.
“Michael Carrick is a clever person, he’s a really good coach, and I think he can lead the team for however long he wants if he gets it right,” Rooney added.
Manchester United have gone through several managerial changes since the departure of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. The club has struggled to regain the dominance it once enjoyed in English and European football, despite appointing several experienced managers over the years.
Rooney also pointed out that there now appears to be a calmer atmosphere around Old Trafford, something he believes could help the team improve in the coming seasons.
“It will be an interesting summer,” Rooney said. “For the first time in a long time Manchester United seem like they have a bit of calmness around the whole place and that’s a good thing.”
