Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has backed caretaker head coach Michael Carrick to steady the club during a tricky period, but he warned fans not to mistake his calm demeanour for a lack of authority.
United confirmed on Tuesday that Carrick would take charge until the end of the season, succeeding Ruben Amorim, as the club continues to struggle for consistency on and off the pitch.
Speaking to BBC Sport on Friday, Rooney, who played alongside Carrick at Old Trafford, said the former midfielder would approach the role with full focus despite his relaxed appearance.
“Michael’s great fun. He is a great character, but don’t be fooled by how calm he looks. He can have fun as well, but make no mistake, he’d be going in there now with full focus,” Rooney said on the latest edition of the BBC podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show.
Rooney and Carrick were teammates 366 times and won five Premier League titles together during a golden era for the club.
Carrick played 464 games for United over 12 years and briefly served as caretaker manager in 2021, winning two matches and drawing one. The 44-year-old also managed Middlesbrough between 2022 and 2025.
Rooney said Carrick was the right choice given the club’s current situation.
“It is probably the obvious choice, really, because I don’t think there are any top, top managers available at the moment,” he said. “I think it is the right choice at this moment in time.
“It is a difficult task, of course. Where Manchester United are at the minute is not a good place, and Michael has to go in and steady the ship.”
Carrick’s short-term appointment has also sparked speculation about who could take over permanently in the summer.
Former Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, who left Real Madrid on Monday, and England manager Thomas Tuchel have already been linked to the role.
“Alonso did incredibly at Leverkusen, and I think you have more chance of him sitting and waiting and hoping with [Liverpool manager Arne] Slot,” Rooney said.
“Tuchel is the one for me. He knows the Premier League, has won trophies, and is doing well for England. Time will tell.”