- Romano reveals Manchester United decision to hire Carrick
- Club almost passed on opportunity
- 44 year-old has guided Reds to Champions League
On Sunday (3 May), Manchester United secured Champions League qualification with a thrilling 3-2 win against Liverpool. With three games to spare, the pressure is off Michael Carrick. The Englishman has significantly overachieved by steering the club back to Europe’s elite competition.
The Red Devils will still hope to finish the season as the ‘best of the rest’ in third place. Carrick’s side are firmly on track to do exactly that. They sit six points ahead of Arne Slot’s Liverpool, while Aston Villa remain at the same distance away too.
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Carrick Was ‘Close’ to Not Getting Job
When Ruben Amorim was sacked by the club in January, it was Ole Gunnar Solskjær who emerged as the initial favourite for the job. It has been revealed by Fabrizio Romano that the Red Devils came close to not hiring Carrick.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, he explained: “We have to give credit to the United board because the management decided to go for Carrick even if Solskjær was very close to getting the job.”
Solskjær managed the reserves after retiring from playing and later returned as caretaker manager in 2018. After an impressive 19-game initial spell, the Norwegian was handed a permanent contract. He eventually oversaw 149 games before being sacked in late 2021.
Romano continued: “The final decision was 50/50 but they decided to go for Michael Carrick, well it was the right decision”.
Ultimately, Solskjær was the frontrunner in a three-man shortlist. Ruud van Nistelrooy, who served as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, was the outside favourite. The Dutchman was the only candidate who was not formally interviewed, largely because technical director Jason Wilcox was already personally familiar with Van Nistelrooy’s coaching capabilities.
INEOS Deserve Credit for Fortunes Changing
Admittedly, INEOS deserve a great deal of credit for shifting their perspective and focusing on individualism rather than nostalgia. Opting for Solskjær would have been the ‘safe’ and sentiment-driven choice. However, it also would have served as a reminder of the very past the new United hierarchy has worked so hard to move away from.
The Glazer family frequently leaned into fan sentiment and comfortable appointments. However, the INEOS leadership have preferred a more open-minded approach. Carrick ultimately won the job because he wowed the decision-makers during his interview. It was a season-defining moment in the boardroom that changed United’s fortunes months later.
With Champions League football now secured for next season, that 50/50 gamble by the United board has paid off. Carrick has not only brought stability back to Old Trafford but has also given the hierarchy a real dilemma of appointing him as head coach beyond May.
READ MORE: Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool: Michael Carrick Says ‘We Want More’
