Wayne Rooney has said he would be willing to return to Manchester United as part of the coaching staff if Michael Carrick is appointed caretaker manager, describing such a move as a “no-brainer”.
Rooney made the remarks amid reports that Carrick has emerged as the leading candidate to take charge of the team until the end of the season following the sacking of head coach Ruben Amorim on January 5.
According to BBC Sport on Monday, Carrick, a former Manchester United and England midfielder, is being considered for the caretaker role as the club seeks stability ahead of the players’ return to training on Wednesday.
In the interim, former Scotland international Darren Fletcher has been overseeing first-team affairs, including the Premier League draw with Burnley and the FA Cup defeat to Brighton.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show podcast, the former United and England captain described Carrick as a “great fit” for the role and said he would be open to assisting the club if approached.
Rooney said the club needed individuals who understood its culture and traditions, noting that Manchester United had lost its sense of identity in recent years.
“The club has lost its identity, it’s lost that family feel. This is an opportunity to bring that back and restore the spirit of Manchester United,” he said.
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When asked directly about the possibility of joining Carrick’s coaching team, Rooney said he would accept without hesitation if invited.
“Of course I would. It’s a no-brainer. I’m not begging for a job. If I were asked to go in, of course, I would,” he added, stressing that appointing the right manager was the club’s most important decision.
Carrick, 44, previously served as Manchester United’s interim manager in 2021 following the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, overseeing three matches during his brief spell in charge.