Rio Ferdinand Supports Michael Carrick for Permanent Manager Role
Rio Ferdinand has once again voiced his support for Michael Carrick to be appointed as the permanent manager of Manchester United, despite criticism from former team-mate Roy Keane and other fans. The ex-defender has been one of Carrick’s most vocal advocates among former players who have transitioned into punditry.
Under Carrick’s interim management, Manchester United has managed to secure four consecutive Premier League victories for the first time in two years. This success has led many to believe that appointing Carrick on a permanent basis could help the club move forward from its challenging tenure under Ruben Amorim.
However, Keane was an early critic of the idea, stating that there are “bigger and better” candidates available to take over at the end of the season. Despite this, Ferdinand has continued to push for Carrick, emphasizing that if he leads the club into the Champions League, he should be given the job.
Ferdinand previously criticized the disrespect shown towards Carrick, calling it “unbelievable.” He reinforced his stance after Manchester United’s fourth win under Carrick against Tottenham, highlighting that every managerial appointment comes with risks—not just for Carrick.
“There’s risks with anyone that goes in there,” Ferdinand said on his podcast. “No matter what Michael Carrick does, how well he does, and if he got the job on the back of a great ending to the season, there’s still risk.”
He added, “There’s an element of risk, but with every one of the names that get thrown into the hat, there’s an element of risk with all of them. I don’t know in any walk of life where someone comes in given the opportunity to do well, and put their first foot forward for a job opportunity, they smash it—and hopefully he carries on, at the moment he’s smashing it, four wins out of four, and people are going ‘no, he shouldn’t get it though.’”
Ferdinand expressed confusion over Keane’s position, saying, “I don’t understand that with Roy, I’ve got to be honest. I don’t know how you can be so against it.”
After initially taking a strong stance against Carrick, Keane appeared to soften his position, expressing hope that Carrick would be appointed. However, he maintained that he still believes there are better candidates for the role.
“I don’t think it’s the right decision, good luck with it,” Keane said. “Yeah, but, I’m sticking to my guns. I’ve said my piece, I think that he’s got the job, and if he gets it in the summer then you go ‘listen, good luck to him,’ but as a caretaker manager, it’s a different animal to being manager of United trying to win league titles over the next two, three, four, five years, whatever it might be.”
Keane also acknowledged that Carrick is doing a good job and could find another position in the Premier League if he doesn’t get the job at Old Trafford.
Carrick himself has downplayed speculation about his potential permanent appointment, stating that he doesn’t want the club to make a “knee-jerk” decision. He emphasized that he is enjoying his current role and feels at home at the club.
“I’m loving what I’m doing,” Carrick said. “I’m here, and I feel at home here, but I fully understand the situation, so I’m not getting too carried away.”
He added, “Nothing has changed. To be honest, it’s not going to change what I do or how I feel about it. I think I’m fully aware of the role I’m doing here and the responsibility I’ve got.”
Carrick remains focused on improving the team and ensuring the club’s long-term success. He stressed that short-term results should not dictate major decisions.
“If they have changed that there is something wrong. It can’t be so knee-jerk whether it’s really good or whether there’s a few issues we need to solve. It’s steady progress really.”
Carrick will look to extend Manchester United’s winning streak when they face relegation-threatened West Ham on Tuesday. His performance in the coming matches will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike.
