Michael Carrick has plenty of internal support at Manchester United, with fans likely wondering how Sir Alex Ferguson feels about having former players in the running for the interim head coach vacancy.
Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 as the greatest manager of all time, after spending 26 years in the dugout at Old Trafford, but the Scot is no longer involved in making major decisions.
Nowadays, Ferguson is often spotted in the executive seating in the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, supporting the team and rarely commenting publicly on the team’s performance. He gave a rare interview earlier this season, praising new signing Senne Lammens for quickly adapting to life between the sticks at United.
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However, with Ferguson still present at United, chief executive Omar Berrada and football director Jason Wilcox can still lean on the former manager for his opinion ahead of major decisions. Not to take his every word, but to help them consider the next steps.
Ferguson gave Fletcher his blessing for the interim role ahead of his two fixtures in charge, but he also has had other former players competing to take charge of United’s first team for the remainder of the season.
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Sir Alex Ferguson favoured Michael Carrick over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
United are closing in on hiring Carrick as the new interim head coach.
That means an announcement over Carrick’s new role is imminent, with the former United midfielder expected to take training at Carrington on Wednesday morning.
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Carrick’s first game will see United host Man City in the Manchester derby on Saturday, but many United fans feel Carrick is the right choice ahead of Solskjaer.
According to reliable reporter Ben Jacobs, Ferguson agrees with those fans, in favouring Carrick over Solskjaer.
“I think ultimately Michael Carrick has gathered internal support since a strong interview,” Jacobs said on The United Stand.
“And my info, by the way, is that internal support is not only from senior figures in the leadership team and on the board.
“I’m told as well that Sir Alex Ferguson is understood to be in favour of Carrick over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.”
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This doesn’t mean that Ferguson objected to Solskjaer getting the temporary job, but that he has a preference and maybe felt Carrick deserved a chance after previously impressing as caretaker manager for three matches following Solskjaer’s sacking in 2021.
Michael Carrick speaks to Sir Alex Ferguson regularly
After taking the Middlesbrough job in 2022, Carrick revealed that he spoke to Ferguson before taking the job, so there’s a good chance he will do the same this time around.
Fletcher admitted he called Ferguson to get his views on the former midfielder stepping in to help the team following Amorim’s dismissal.
Speaking to the press in October 2022, Carrick said he speaks to Ferguson more often now than he did as a player.
“I spoke to Sir Alex a few times. 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,” Carrick said, as quoted by the Irish Examiner.
“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.”
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