Michael Carrick is continuing to work his magic at Manchester United, but the ex-midfielder's true demeanour was on full display when he first received the call from the club
Michael Carrick after a Manchester United game
Michael Carrick recorded his sixth victory as Manchester United interim manager with a 2-1 defeat of Crystal Palace(Image: 2026 Allstar)
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Michael Carrick was on his way to a family event when the Manchester United phone call came. At a time when the Reds were scrambling for options after sacking Ruben Amorim, Carrick was the talk of the town.
He and former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were the two names most linked with the vacant position on an interim basis. Carrick had been out of a job since he left Middlesbrough, so the prospect of taking up the reins at Old Trafford would have been huge news.
However, when he attended a family event, not long after receiving the phone call from United, nobody would have guessed he had been offered an opportunity with one of the biggest clubs in the world.
His close friend Chris Hood was among the guests at the event in Newcastle. When asked to describe how the United boss was at the party, considering the phone call he had received, Hood told the BBC: "It doesn't shock me, but nothing was mentioned.
"Not one of us knew even though it was bandied around and there were plenty of people around him who were thinking: 'Will it be him?' But Michael was there for his family and to see his friends. He was there to make the most of that precious time."
This situation emphasises Carrick's unwillingness to make himself the centre of attention, even if he has just been offered one of the biggest jobs in world football. It mirrors how he has carried himself since he stepped into the Old Trafford hotseat.
As well as guiding the Reds to six victories in seven Premier League matches, he has also had to field tricky questions about other matters of the club. He has already been pitched with queries regarding Sir Jim Ratcliffe's controversial comments which saw the United minority owner say "the UK has been colonised by immigrants."
Michael Carrick and Ayden Heaven
Michael Carrick has made an impression on all of United's stars(Image: Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto)
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Moreover, Carrick has also regularly been asked about his chances of being handed the United job on a full-time basis. On that front, he has never looked past United's next game and is taking each day as it comes.
He has also become popular in the dressing room with Lisandro Martinez in particular being left impressed by the ex-United midfielder, who has taken the club up to third in the Premier League. Carrick left an impression on Martinez are only three days.
Speaking after United's convincing 2-0 victory over Manchester City, Martinez said: "First of all, play with the ball, don’t be scared of the ball, having composure with the ball, play with confidence. We had to defend with our lives and when we play we had to play with confidence and I think we did it.
"Three goals, with a minimal offside, I think we deserved this win. But what [Michael] Carrick did with his staff was unbelievable, especially in a short time, that’s why I’m impressed about that.”