Michael Carrick’s start to life as Manchester United head coach has brought striking comparisons to Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid, which is encouraging as the French icon went on to become one of the most successful coaches of the modern era.
Manchester United opted to sack Ruben Amorim midway through the season after a run of inconsistent results since becoming head coach.
There has been a sudden turnaround since Michael Carrick became head coach until the end of the season, amid wins over Man City and Arsenal in the Premier League.
United are now sitting fourth in the Premier League and in contention to finish in the Champions League spots. It means that Carrick could now give United fans something to sing about at the end of the season, even after cup eliminations made winning a trophy almost impossible.
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There will be conversations had over whether Carrick deserves the job long-term, but that will only grow if the former midfield ace continues to win matches and helps United qualify for the Champions League.
That would be the dream outcome for Carrick, who is making the most of his time back at Old Trafford.
Zinedine Zidane and his wife Veronique Zidane at AFCON
Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP via Getty Images
Michael Carrick could be Man Utd’s answer to Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid for a second time in 2021.
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He has long been tipped for a return to management, with several United links surfacing in recent years.
Interestingly, there are comparisons to make with Carrick from when Real Madrid took a risk by hiring an inexperienced former player as head coach midway through the season in 2016.
Zidane took over from the unpopular Rafa Benitez, and he was deeply respected by the dressing room due to his status as a Real Madrid legend. Although Amorim was not unpopular and was backed by the fans until the end, it goes without saying that Carrick’s status will do him favours as a multi-time Premier League winner who starred in one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s greatest sides.
Both coaches replaced an ‘over-coaching’ strategy by simplifying tactics and playing star players in their best positions. Carrick has shifted away from Amorim’s preferred 3-4-2-1 formation. The football has been more fluid as a result.
In Zidane’s first game as Real Madrid manager, Los Blancos won 5-0 and went on to win the Champions League in his first six months. That won’t quite be the case with Carrick, but he has deservedly beaten two title contenders in his first two matches in charge since returning to Old Trafford.
In terms of a tactical blueprint, Carrick has arrived with a disciplined mid-block in his first two matches, relying on lethal counter-attacks led by Patrick Dorgu and Bryan Mbeumo. Zidane had no problem relying on his star players in the final third when his team were in transition, as seen with Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Carrick’s management style could also be compared to Zidane’s because there is a focus on possession-based football and the development of club culture rather than a naïve approach to tactics or systems.
They are both considered calm on the touchline, not allowing their emotions to get the better of them, which Zidane was guilty of in the 2006 World Cup final.
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It would be a fascinating story if Carrick could go on to become United’s version of Zidane on the touchline, especially after years of being linked with the French coach.
Zinedine Zidane record at Real Madrid
Zidane managed Real Madrid two times in his career.
That includes 263 matches, with 174 of them being wins, and collecting a total of nine trophies.
The Frenchman became the only manager in history to win three consecutive Champions League titles.
That came after an instant turnaround when he replaced Benitez.
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