FOOTBALL

Rooney names manager he thinks ‘is the one’ for Man United

ovanews 10 months ago 2 min read

Wayne Rooney has given his backing to Michael Carrick’s caretaker spell at Manchester United but has named the coach he thinks should take the permanent position.

Carrick will take charge of Manchester United until the end of the season, with his first fixture in charge Saturday’s derby against Manchester City at Old Trafford.

Rooney played alongside Carrick during his playing career with the club and thinks the 44-year-old is the ‘obvious choice’ to steady the ship for now, following Ruben Amorim’s exit.

“It is probably the obvious choice really because I don’t think there are any top, top managers available at the minute,” Rooney said on the BBC podcast The Wayne Rooney Show.

“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.”

United are set to wait until the summer for a permanent appointment. Former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has been named as an option, though Rooney believes Alonso’s Liverpool links make that route difficult.

He has instead given his backing to Thomas Tuchel, with optimism the German can be persuaded to leave his role with England after the 2026 World Cup.

“Alonso did incredible 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. He is doing well at England. Time will tell.”

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