Carrick on the rise as Middlesbrough manager
Former Manchester United star Michael Carrick is aiming to cap his remarkable first season as a manager by leading Middlesbrough into the Premier League.
Carrick's side travel to Coventry for the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-finals on Sunday.
Reaching the play-offs as a managerial novice is an impressive achievement for the understated Carrick, who retired as a player in 2018 and worked as Manchester United's assistant manager before accepting the Middlesbrough job in October.
When Carrick was hired following Chris Wilder's sacking, Middlesbrough were languishing one point above the relegation zone after a poor start to the season.
But the 41-year-old has made such a positive impact during his seven months at the Riverside Stadium that former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes he is certain to manage the Old Trafford club in the future.
"Michael is a proper human being, a proper man who you want to be successful," Solskjaer told The Athletic. "I am 100 percent sure that Michael will be the manager of Manchester United if he wants to be."
Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson described Carrick as the "perfect fit" for a club in desperate need of rejuvenation after a disappointing period since their relegation from the Premier League in 2017.
Gibson's belief in the untested Carrick might have been fuelled by memories of another occasion when he hired a former United midfielder to breath new life into his team.
Bryan Robson left Old Trafford in 1994 when lifelong Middlesbrough fan Gibson convinced him to become player-manager of the second-tier club.
Middlesbrough were promoted to the Premier League in Robson's first season, with unglamourous Teesside suddenly becoming a desirable destination for stars such as Juninho and Fabrizio Ravanelli.
Carrick is on course to emulate Robson's success after Middlesbrough climbed away from the relegation zone and surged to a fourth-place finish in the Championship.
The former midfielder, who won 12 major trophies at United, including the Premier League and Champions League, had immediate respect from the Middlesbrough squad.
What Solskjaer describes as Carrick's "calm and reflective" qualities also helped salve the wounds from Middlesbrough's rocky patch prior to his arrival.
Carrick's smooth passing style as a player has been emblematic of his maiden managerial foray, with attack-minded Middlesbrough finishing the season as the Championship's second highest scorers.
"As a player, you'd want to do well for Michael because he cares about you. He wants you to be the best you can be," Solskjaer said.
If Carrick can lead Middlesbrough to the play-off final, where they would meet Sunderland or Luton, and then secure promotion to the Premier League, he will inevitably find himself linked with bigger jobs.
Carrick has already managed United for three games as interim boss after Solskjaer was sacked in 2021.
He had previously served as Solskjaer's assistant manager, a role he also filled during Jose Mourinho's United reign.
Although Carrick was unbeaten with two wins and a draw in his caretaker spell, he did not believe he was ready for a job of that magnitude.
After the managerial travails of his former England team-mates Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville, Carrick is showing signs of bucking the trend.
To be considered a genuine United candidate when Erik ten Hag eventually departs, he must continue the impressive work at Middlesbrough, starting in the play-offs this weekend.
"It's something you have got to relish," Carrick said of Middlesbrough's bid to win a promotion worth around £170 million ($212 million)
"We're privileged to be in this position because we're fighting for something that's worth achieving."
Solskjaer has no doubts his friend can cope with the play-off pressure.
"He's a massive winner, yet he stays in control of his emotions. He knows what he wants and doesn't lose his rag," he said.
(责任编辑:新闻中心)
- Apple Watch 10 rumors: Everything we know so far
- 芦山县法院亲情调解赡养案件
- 旅游公路上的大假记忆
- Nokia 9 PureView hands
- [Herald Review] Tori Kelly thrills fans, hints her love for Korean artists
- Ruling bloc seeks tougher sentences for deepfake sex crimes
- [From the scene] Dec. 3 anti
- Poor form puts Chelsea's faith in Potter to test
- Nobody cared about Meizu's hole
- Best Home Depot Labor Day sale deals
- north korea, kim jong un, russia, humanitarian assistance, food shortages, vladimir putin
- 省人力资源和社会保障厅帮扶工作组到石棉县开展帮扶活动
- S. Korea files damages suit against NK over 2020 demolition of joint liaison office
-
Recently I had a friend over to whom I offered to audition my DIY PC speaker system. The first thing ...[详细]
-
While political tension heightened over how and when President Park Geun-hye will leave office, the ...[详细]
-
Huawei Mate X hands on: The most promising foldable phone yet
The race to build the best foldable phone is officially on.Not to be outdone by Samsung's Galaxy Fol ...[详细] -
Defector group sends propaganda leaflets to N. Korea on Korean War anniversary
A North Korean defectors' group said Monday it has sent anti-Pyongyang leaflets and medicine by ball ...[详细] -
Where to pre-order the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 ProGoogleGoogle Pixel 9Starting at $799 (plus get a free ...[详细]
-
‘If you love the ocean, look for the label’
With an increasing number of consumers wanting to know where their food comes from, eco-labeled food ...[详细] -
本报讯 近日,在山西省晋中市举行的“大寨杯”2010全国老年人柔力球健身展示大会上,由雅安市组团代表的四川代表队取得不俗成绩。据悉,本次大赛由中国老年人体育协会主办。雅安市组团参赛是受四川省老年人体育 ...[详细]
-
Rahm questions rankings system
LONDON:Jon Rahm believes he is currently the "best player in the world" after a red-hot st ...[详细] -
Who is the Dark Wizard in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Season 2?
Just when The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerreveals the identity of one mysterious wizard, it ...[详细] -
本报讯 为提高农村劳动力素质和就业技能,实现农民的稳定就业和增收,13日,汉源县启动了2010年农村劳动力转移培训阳光工程。培训会上,108名移民群众汇聚一堂对汉源县特色农业经济即果树、蔬菜等管理知识 ...[详细]
- The Techies Who Lunch
- north korea, kim jong un, russia, humanitarian assistance, food shortages, vladimir putin
- Gauff: Auckland title will boost Australian Open confidence
- 芦山县法院亲情调解赡养案件
- 50 Years Later: The Revolutionary 8008 Microprocessor
- Adele invites drag impersonator on stage to belt tunes and take selfies
- Gauff charges into Auckland semis