Michael Carrick saw off competition from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy to become Manchester United’s new head coach.
The race to find a temporary head coach began last week as Manchester United sacked Ruben Amorim after 14 months.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was a strong contender early on, but Michael Carrick got the United job after impressing Jason Wilcox during meetings last week.
Carrick takes over from Darren Fletcher, who stood in for the two matches that followed on from Amorim’s dismissal. United drew 2-2 with Burnley at Turf Moor before crashing out of the FA Cup after losing 2-1 against Brighton.
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The United board has set an objective of Champions League qualification for Carrick. It’s deemed ‘crucial’ but would require a massive uplift in form.
United are currently seventh in the Premier League, after missing out on several opportunities to climb into the top four over the Christmas period.
That has now become Carrick’s job until the end of the season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks frustrated after a defeat
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
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Man Utd hierarchy thought Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was a step backwards
United spoke to three former caretakers to find the best man to try to steady the ship at Old Trafford.
The search was led by United director of football Jason Wilcox, who drew up a shortlist for an external caretaker hire after giving Amorim his marching orders.
Carrick was the chosen one, which means Solskjaer and Van Nistelrooy missed out on a return to their former club.
Reliable reporter David Ornstein has told Sky Sports that United decided to overlook Solskjaer because the hierarchy felt the Norwegian represented the previous regime at the club and that it was ‘too big’ of a step ‘backwards’.
“Ole represented to the hierarchy a lot of what happened previously; perhaps some of them felt it was too big a step backwards.”
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Solskjaer has only held one job – at Besiktas – since leaving United over four years ago.
It remains to be seen when he will return to the dugout, but he may now feel it’s time to go prove himself again.
Man Utd hierarchy thought Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was a step backwards
United spoke to three former caretakers to find the best man to try steady the ship at Old Trafford.
The search was led by United director of football Jason Wilcox, who drew up a shortlist for an external caretaker hire after giving Amorim his marching orders.
Carrick was the chosen one, which means Solskjaer and Van Nistelrooy missed out on a return to their former club.
Reliable reporter David Ornstein has told Sky Sports that United decided to overlook Solskjaer because the hierarchy felt the Norwegian represented the previous regime at the club and that it was ‘too big’ of a step ‘backwards’.
“Ole represented to the hierarchy a lot of what happened previously; perhaps some of them felt it was too big a step backwards.”
Solskjaer has only held one job – at Besiktas – since leaving United over four years ago.
It remains to be seen when he will return to the dugout, but he may now feel it’s time to go prove himself again.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted longer Man Utd contract
Ornstein also revealed that Solskjaer requested a longer contract during his talks with United.
This means Carrick was more willing to take on the job temporarily, until the end of the current campaign.
Ornstein added: “He (Solskjaer) was very keen to see this as more of a permanent thing, because he is a manager in his own right. He’s done this very job in his own right.
“Going back to being at the same club as an interim may have jarred with some, including him. I think he sees this, from the conversations I’ve had, as being a longer-term project that he would love to get his teeth stuck into, a real rebuild over years, rather than just four months.
“I think Carrick was very willing to take it on the basis of four months.”
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Featuring…
📋 Michael Carrick’s top priorities
📈 How many wins Carrick needs
🏆 Winners and losers
❌ Ole misses out
⚽ Carrick’s playing days
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