Carrick on the rise as Middlesbrough manager
LONDON: 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.
相关推荐
-
23 Peculiar Places of 2023
-
Mischievous pup who found the wrong side of the law is still a very good dog
-
Why the second Ku Klux Klan failed to win pervasive American support.
-
优化课堂教学 强化教育管理
-
Washington Mystics vs. Chicago Sky 2024 livestream: Watch live WNBA
-
Columbia shows off bendy battery inspired by the human spine
- 最近发表
-
- Spaceship tech slashes energy usage of existing AC systems
- Juve, Inter play catch
- North Korea state
- Karen Pence's weird
- Trump won't stop making a deceptive bird claim. Experts debunk it.
- 全省食品跟踪抽检 我市合格率100%
- Presidential hopeful Lee tested for coronavirus
- Spike in church infections grips greater Seoul, govt. warns of stern response
- Which iPad Model Is Right for You?
- Trump says FDA authorizes emergency use of blood plasma for coronavirus patients
- 随机阅读
-
- Sports minister says audits into football, badminton federations set to conclude in Sept.
- As virus cases pass 300 for 2nd day, S. Korea expands stricter social distancing nationwide
- North Korea calls on South Korea to stop military drills with US
- 'Snitty' is Twitter's word of the day after Bill Barr's Senate testimony
- Michael Cohen fights Donald Trump at the Supreme Court.
- North Korean delegation inspects concert venues in Seoul [PHOTOS]
- N. Korea's No. 3 leader, new premier make rare joint 'field guidance' visit
- Grosjean crash a wake
- 雅安市举办首届“文轩教育”校园足球精英夏令营
- 雅安未来的第一个5A级景区门票5折啦!
- N. Koreans visit Olympic venues for second day
- S. Korea reports new 332 coronavirus cases, highest in five months
- 广东超一半的北运淡水鱼来自这里!全链发力打响“南海鱼”金字招牌
- Chris Pratt shares behind
- Everything Facebook announced at F8 2019
- S. Korea reports new 332 coronavirus cases, highest in five months
- Apple iPod: The First 10 Years of the Ubiquitous Media Player
- North Korean delegation inspects concert venues in Seoul [PHOTOS]
- No US military action during inter
- S. Korea reports new 332 coronavirus cases, highest in five months
- 搜索
-
- 友情链接
-