‘No-brainer’ – Wayne Rooney gives Michael Carrick instant Man United decision to make

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has revealed that he would happily join Michael Carrick’s coaching staff for the remainder of the season.

talkSPORT understands the former midfielder is set to be beat Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the interim manager’s job at Old Trafford until the end of the season.

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Solskjaer had been the leading contender, but after a short interview process, it is the man from the North East of England that is in the box seat.

talkSPORT understands that Carrick would like to bring Jonathan Woodgate with him to Old Trafford and is looking to include Darren Fletcher and Jonny Evans in his backroom team too.

But Rooney has now thrown his hat into the ring as well as he said on his podcast he would be keen on reuniting with Carrick in the dugout and on the training field.

And Rooney said: “Of course I would.

“It’s a no-brainer. I’m not begging a job here by the way. Just so everyone knows, if I was asked to go in of course I would. Appointing the manager is the most important thing.”

But even if Rooney doesn’t get a role, the England icon believes that Carrick is a sensible appointment because he is someone who knows and cares about the club.

“Whether Michael goes in or if that’s Fletch [Darren Fletcher] or John O’Shea or myself, it needs people who know the football club,” former Plymouth, Derby and Birmingham boss Rooney said, having recently holidayed with Carrick and his family in Barbados.

“Roy Keane – I know Roy has had his opinions, I said about Roy going in earlier in the season. Having people who know the club, who care for the club and understand what it takes to be a Manchester United player – that’s where the club needs to be.

“The club has lost its identity, it’s lost that family feel, if you like. Whether it’s Ole [Ole Gunnar Solskjaer] or Michael, this is an opportunity to bring that back, bring the spirit of Manchester United back to the football club.”

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Carrick gets the nod

talkSPORT understands that Sir Alex Ferguson personally recommended Carrick over Solskjaer, who has been interim and permanent boss at Old Trafford before.

But Carrick is expected to be announced on Tuesday as the new interim manager.

And he is planning on getting the band back together with Evans and Fletcher being invited onto the backroom staff.

It remains to be seen if Rooney gets an invite as well, but what is clear is that the Red Devils are trying to bring in people who understand the club.

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Rooney’s managerial record

Rooney is back as a pundit after several managerial jobs that haven’t worked out.

The Englishman has had four full-time managerial jobs, starting with Derby County and ending with Plymouth Argyle.

Rooney got the Derby job full time after being caretaker boss.

The club at the time was in turmoil, and the Man United legend earned praise for the way he handled himself, landing a job in the US with DC United.

There he managed 53 games before taking the Birmingham City job.

He replaced popular coach John Eustace, and things couldn’t have gone worse.

The Blues lost their first three Championship games, and didn’t win until the sixth league game of his tenure.

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Overall, they only won twice, and he was sacked in January 2024, but the damage was already done for Birmingham, who went down that year.

Rooney’s most recent managerial job came with Plymouth.

It was always going to be a tough year for the Pilgrims, but Rooney didn’t manage a league win until the fifth game of the season.

He was duly sacked as first-team manager in December 2024.