Ole Gunnar Solskjær has expressed his support for Michael Carrick after the latter was appointed interim head coach of Manchester United until the end of the season. The former United manager, who led the club from 2018 to 2021, had been considered a leading candidate to step in following Ruben Amorim's departure earlier this month.
According to BBC Sport, Solskjær 'wants' Carrick to succeed and views United's success as 'the most important thing'. The Norwegian believes Carrick will do an 'excellent job' at the helm, despite being overlooked for the role himself. Carrick, who previously served as Solskjær's coach at Old Trafford, was appointed after impressing in talks with the club hierarchy.
Solskjær had tipped Carrick for the United job as early as 2023, praising his knowledge and emotional control. 'Michael is a man of value and principles, a big family man, but his knowledge is also second to none,' Solskjær told The Athletic. He noted Carrick's experience under managers Sir Alex Ferguson and José Mourinho as key attributes.
The interim role represents a significant opportunity for Carrick, who was sacked by Middlesbrough in June after two and a half years in charge. He oversaw 136 games at the Championship side but failed to secure a top-six finish. Carrick's appointment at United runs until at least the summer, with no indication of Solskjær's immediate plans for a return to management.
