Kobbie Mainoo made his Manchester United debut under Erik ten Hag, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spotted his potential.
Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Bruno Fernandes are among the current Manchester United players who starred for the club under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The huge turnover in the squad since his sacking in 2021 means not many players Solskjaer worked with are available to Michael Carrick.
Kobbie Mainoo is a player Carrick knew already from Carrington, because Solskjaer saw his potential early and gave him his first taste of working with the senior squad.
Mainoo only made his under-18s debut in 2020, and his under-21s debut in 2021, one month before Solskjaer was fired.
Yet there was still time for Solskjaer to take a look at Mainoo in a first team environment.
Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Manchester United at Goodison Park on November 26, 2023
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
How worried are you about Kobbie Mainoo not yet signing a new contract?
Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford on February 1, 2026
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Kobbie Mainoo played under Solskjaer
Kobbie Mainoo revealed in a previous interview with TNT Sports that he was called into an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer training session as an emergency measure.
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While Mainoo said the experience was brief, he left with a big imprint by being able to play in a secret friendly match.
He explained: “It was a behind-closed-doors friendly at Old Trafford and I had just played a couple of days before.
“My Under-18s coach came to me and said, ‘the first team need a player. Is your body okay’? I was like, ‘yeah!’
“Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the coach at the time. I just went in and got 20 minutes and it was just crazy. That was my first ever experience.
“I don’t know If I’d even trained with the first team at that point. It was just crazy seeing Cavani and players like that.”
Is Ruben Amorim not playing Kobbie Mainoo the worst decision you can remember from a recent Man Utd manager?
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The only way is up for Mainoo
Kobbie Mainoo failed to win over Ruben Amorim, to the extent that he did not start a single Premier League game all season.
Michael Carrick subsequently started Mainoo in all 10 matches he has taken charge of so far.
Mainoo’s fresh start gave him the reset he now needs, and might even rescue his World Cup 2026 dream, now he has been recalled by England.
All Mainoo needed was a coach who believed in him. Carrick was part of the staff that gave him early motivation in his career, and is now helping him to reach his potential.
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