Sir Alex Ferguson completed the signing of a player in 2006 who is still having a major impact at Manchester United.
‘Manchester United DNA’ gets referenced as a throwback to standards set by Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson.
It could be argued that United lacked important elements of the club’s treasured DNA during Ruben Amorim’s 14-month reign in charge.
The results were dire; United played with a back-three system, and there were legitimate concerns over how Amorim viewed academy graduates due to his questionable stance on Kobbie Mainoo.
Who is Manchester United’s best ever signing from Tottenham?
Getty Images
Whether it’s on the counter or by pinning the opponents in their own half, United fans want to see attacking football. Not a team stripped of proper wingers because the head coach is hellbent on wing-backs.
Now, after three consecutive wins under newly appointed head coach Michael Carrick, the mood has improved at Old Trafford, and so has the competitive nature most people associate with United.
Sir Alex Ferguson with new signing Michael Carrick in 2006
Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Michael Carrick left Tottenham for Man Utd in 2006
United host Tottenham in the Premier League in the early kick-off on Saturday.
More United News
It means Carrick will be trying to get one over his former club, Tottenham, where he spent two years before earning the biggest move of his career by signing for United.
Ferguson was in the process of rebuilding his team at United without Roy Keane’s presence in midfield, but he opted to sign a completely different type of midfielder in Carrick, who would go on to help United transition into the best team in Europe after winning the Champions League in 2008.
The transfer cost United £16 million, and Carrick was given the number 16 first, which was formerly worn by Keane.
When compared to Keane, Gary Neville once described Carrick as a ‘piano’, oozing relaxed vibes in the middle of the pitch. Those characteristics remain valid on the touchline now that he is the United head coach.
Carrick won 12 major trophies during his time as a United player, though. That includes five Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Europa League, the FA Cup, three League Cups, and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Carrick rarely gets brought up among great United signings, even if the conversation is about mid-2000 transfers, everyone focuses on Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy or even Carlos Tevez and Owen Hargreaves.
For that reason, I think Carrick is one of the most underrated signings made by Ferguson. Ji-sung Park is another honourable candidate.
Carrick won several individual awards for his performances. The former England midfielder was named in the PFA Team of the Year after one of his best campaigns in 2012/13. That same year, he was named the Players’ Player of the Year.
Although questions were asked when United signed Carrick because he wasn’t a like-for-like alternative to Keane, he went on to make 464 appearances for the team, along with 59 goal contributions (24 goals and 35 assists).
Man Utd HAVE to turn this record around vs Spurs this time…
Are you confident Michael Carrick will get a win?
Getty Images
Michael Carrick still making Man Utd proud
Carrick has never hidden his admiration for United, even after leaving the club as a coach before taking charge of Championship outfit Middlesbrough.
It was a good idea for Carrick to leave Old Trafford after a short stint as interim manager following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal, as it allowed him to gain experience as a manager.
After spending so many years at Old Trafford, it was also important for Carrick to leave his comfort zone for a bit.
Carrick is now enjoying a perfect start as United head coach, having won his first three games against teams sitting in the top half of the Premier League table.
To his credit, there is more optimism surrounding the club now than there was under Amorim throughout the season.
It was an unthinkable task in 2006 that Carrick would join United, prove to be an adequate successor to Keane by winning everything, and go on to become head coach.
As you’ll hear from the Stretford End on Saturday… “It’s Carrick, you know!”
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox