Sir Alex Ferguson advised Manchester United whether they should appoint Michael Carrick or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their new interim manager following the Red Devils' decision to sack Ruben Amorim as their head coach.
Darren Fletcher has taken over in the week that has followed the Portuguese coach's dismissal, overseeing their 2-2 Premier League draw against Burnley before their FA Cup elimination at the hands of Brighton. While that was going on, though, the club's hierarchy continued to search for a caretaker manager who would see out the rest of the 2025/26 season.
Early indications were that it would be Solskjaer who would be returning to the dugout, having previously coached United from 2018 until 2021. But reports on Monday have suggested that it is Carrick who is now the leading candidate to take the reigns at the Theatre of Dreams.
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Ferguson Informed United on His Preferred Option Out of Carrick and Solskjaer
Ferguson
Despite Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox playing major roles in informing minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe about who should be appointed caretaker manager, former United boss Ferguson still has considerable influence at the club. And talkSPORT have since reported that the legendary Scottish manager gave his view on who the club should select out of Carrick and Solskjaer.
TalkSPORT report that it was Carrick who was backed by his former manager, stating that his appointment is expected to be confirmed on Tuesday. They add that the former Midddlesbrough manager is set to ask current interim manager Fletcher to be a part of his coaching staff, alongside Jonny Evans and Jonathan Woodgate.
Ferguson is not the only United legend to have given Carrick his blessing should he take the job at Old Trafford. Cristiano Ronaldo has also previously lauded his former teammate back in November 2021, when the former midfielder was placed in temporary charge following Solskjaer's sacking. The Portuguese icon said that he had the potential to, "become a great coach" and will no doubt be rooting for him from the sidelines.
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Having played under the Scottish manager for several years of his career, Carrick had the perfect mentor to help guide him into management. And back in 2022, when the former England international was appointed Middlesbrough manager, he revealed that he spoke to Ferguson before taking on his first permanent role.
"I spoke to Sir Alex a few times," he said. "I’ve spoken to him more since I stopped playing – I didn’t want to get too close to him when I was a player.
"I spoke to him a lot. It’s well-documented that he has a real pride and a care about ex-players progressing and being coaches, managers and takes a real pride and care in helping them as well.
"He’s certainly done that to me and I really appreciate the advice he’s given me."