Rooney: I'd Jump at Chance to Join Carrick's Man Utd Coaching Setup

Wayne Rooney has left the door wide open for a return to Manchester United's backroom, insisting he would welcome the opportunity to join Michael Carrick's coaching staff at Old Trafford.

The legendary striker's comments come as Carrick edges closer to being unveiled as interim manager, a position that will keep him in the hotseat until the summer when United plot a permanent successor to Ruben Amorim.

According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, Carrick has already struck an agreement with the club, with an announcement imminent. The deal encompasses his proposed coaching team, though contract finalisation remains outstanding. Should matters proceed smoothly, Carrick's first assignment would pit him against Manchester City at home this Saturday.

Speaking on his BBC podcast, Rooney—who recently holidayed in Barbados alongside Carrick and his family—made it abundantly clear he'd have no hesitation in accepting an invitation to join the setup. When directly asked whether he'd consider such a role, Rooney replied: "Of course I would. It's a no-brainer. I'm not begging a job here by the way. Just so everyone knows, if I was asked to go in of course I would."

The 39-year-old stressed the importance of bringing familiar faces into the fold, citing the need for individuals who genuinely understand Manchester United's values and expectations. "Whether Michael goes in or if that's Fletch [Darren Fletcher] or John O'Shea or myself, it needs people who know the football club," Rooney explained.

He further elaborated on the broader challenge facing United's new regime: "The club has lost its identity, it's lost that family feel, if you like. Whether it's Ole [Ole Gunnar Solskjaer] or Michael, this is an opportunity to bring that back, bring the spirit of Manchester United back to the football club."

Rooney's vision extends beyond simply appointing a manager. He emphasised the critical importance of surrounding that individual with people who comprehend what it genuinely means to represent United. "Having people who know the club, who care for the club and understand what it takes to be a Manchester United player – that's where the club needs to be," he noted.

Meanwhile, Carrick has previously offered his assessment of Kobbie Mainoo, the academy prospect who has struggled for Premier League starts under Amorim this season. When asked by Rio Ferdinand last year about where he'd deploy the midfielder, Carrick suggested a more advanced role suits his profile. "He's more of an attacker. I don't see him as a holding midfielder," Carrick said. "He's that line above where he needs a little bit more freedom. He can defend the higher line but I think that bit deeper, around the centre-backs, that's a bit of a different thing completely. I see him playing that little bit higher and creating. I think he's got a massive future. I really like him, he just needs that patience and a little bit of a break again."