Manchester United Carrick: Wayne Rooney ready to join the coaching staff

Wayne Rooney has said it would be “easy” to return to Manchester United as coach if Michael Carrick is appointed caretaker manager and is offered the opportunity to be part of his staff.

Carrick, Rooney’s former teammate at United and England, emerged as the most likely candidate to take over at Old Trafford until the end of the season, after former coach Ruben Amorim was dismissed on January 5.

Former Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher, who also played alongside Rooney at United, was put in temporary charge of first-team affairs following Amorim’s departure and oversaw a Premier League draw with Burnley and a 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Brighton.

Club bosses hope that a tentative date will be set when the players return to training on Wednesday.

Speaking on the latest edition of BBC’s The Wayne Rooney Show, United’s all-time record goalscorer said Carrick would be a “perfect fit” for the role, and that he would “of course” provide any assistance if needed.

“Either Michael comes in or it’s Fletch [Darren Fletcher] “Or John O’Shea or me, we need people who know the football club,” added Rooney, who recently spent a holiday with Carrick and his family in Barbados.

“Roy Keane – I know Roy had his views, I said about Roy joining earlier in the season. Having people who know the club, care about the club and understand what it takes to be a Manchester United player – that’s where the club needs to be.

“The club has lost its identity, it has lost the family feeling, if you like. Whether Ole [Ole Gunnar Solskjaer] Or Michael, this is an opportunity to bring that back, and bring the spirit of Manchester United back to the football club.

Asked whether he would join Carrick’s coaching staff, he said: “Of course I will. It’s a no-brainer.”

“By the way, I’m not begging for a job here. Just so everyone knows, if I’m asked to go of course I will. Appointing the manager is the most important thing.”

Carrick, 44, previously spent three games as United’s caretaker coach following Solskjaer’s sacking in 2021.

He won two and drew one of those matches but left after the arrival of Ralf Rangnick as caretaker manager.

Solskjaer held direct discussions with the club on Saturday about a return.