Carrick Eyes Bayern Munich Coach Danks for Old Trafford Role

Michael Carrick is plotting a move to strengthen his coaching contingent at Manchester United, with Bayern Munich assistant Aaron Danks firmly on his radar as he prepares for a potential permanent switch to the Old Trafford dugout.

The interim boss has impressed in his caretaker role, steering the club tantalizingly close to Champions League qualification, and now finds himself as the leading candidate for the job on a full-time basis. With that in mind, Carrick is already thinking strategically about the support structure he'll need around him.

Danks, currently 42, operates under Vincent Kompany at the back-to-back Bundesliga champions, having arrived in 2024. The pair share established chemistry from their time together at Anderlecht in 2021, and sources indicate the Bayern Munich coach sits high on Carrick's wishlist as he shapes his long-term backroom operation.

The former Middlesbrough manager knows Danks well – they worked together on Teesside before the coach departed for Germany two years ago. That familiarity, combined with Danks' impressive coaching pedigree, appears to be driving Carrick's interest.

A Coaching CV Worth Examining

Danks has carved out a varied career across multiple elite environments. He began within the England youth ranks before stepping into senior football under Kompany in Belgium. His journey then took him to Aston Villa, where he served as assistant to Dean Smith and subsequently worked under Steven Gerrard and Unai Emery through various managerial transitions.

His credentials were further enhanced during his spell at Middlesbrough, where he became Carrick's trusted lieutenant. More recently, he's gained experience at one of Europe's biggest clubs, even taking charge of Bayern's thrilling midweek Champions League encounter at PSG – a 5-4 defeat – when Kompany was suspended.

United's Due Diligence

Manchester United have already conducted background work on Danks and come away impressed by their findings. His tactical intelligence, adaptability across different systems, and experience operating within elite setups have all registered positively with the club's hierarchy.

The Red Devils are actively carrying out due diligence on potential coaching additions ahead of what appears an increasingly likely scenario: Carrick landing the permanent role. No formal approach has been made as yet, though the interest is described as concrete.

Should everything fall into place, Danks would join an evolving backroom team that already features Steve Holland and Jonathan Woodgate, both appointed since Carrick's interim appointment. It represents another significant statement of intent from Carrick regarding the coaching structure he wants firmly in place at Old Trafford.