Following Manchester United’s two significant victories under Michael Carrick’s management against Manchester City and league leaders Arsenal, it seems the prophecy of Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo has already come true.
On January 13, Manchester United announced the appointment of Michael Carrick as manager until the end of the season, succeeding Rúben Amorim.
Carrick’s arrival on the bench has injected a new spirit into Manchester United. He won the Manchester derby against City (2-0) in his first match back and, in his second match, defeated league leaders Arsenal (3-2) at the Emirates Stadium.
These two important victories have proven Ronaldo’s predictions about Carrick as manager of the “Red Devils” correct, predictions he made back in December 2021, over four years ago.
Ronaldo tweeted at the time, “Carrick was an exceptional player, and he can also become a great manager. Nothing is impossible for him. I am personally proud to have played with him and to have had him as my manager.”
The tweet served as his personal farewell to Carrick, who had, ironically, just concluded his first stint as Manchester United’s interim manager.
During that first interim period in 2021, he achieved an unbeaten run, which included a 2-0 away win against Villarreal, a 1-1 draw with Chelsea, and an exciting 3-2 victory over Arsenal.
Roy Keane Criticizes Carrick
In contrast, Roy Keane downplayed Carrick’s achievements, telling a sports network: “Any team is capable of winning two matches. He might even finish the season in fourth place, but I’m not convinced he’s the right man for the job. Not at all. They need a manager with a bigger name.”
Rio Ferdinand immediately responded: “Some say that no matter what Carrick does, he shouldn’t be given the chance to manage Manchester United. That’s incredibly disrespectful. What makes you say that? It’s madness.”
Carrick played 464 matches for the club, winning five Premier League titles, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Champions League, the Europa League, and the FIFA Club World Cup.
After retiring as a player, Carrick joined the first-team coaching staff in 2018, working under José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær, before taking temporary charge of the team following the Norwegian manager’s departure.
Manchester United
Manchester United is a professional football club based in Manchester, England, founded in 1878 as Newton Heath LYR Football Club. It is one of the world’s most famous and successful football clubs, with a storied history that includes winning numerous domestic and European trophies, particularly under the management of Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson.
Manchester City
Manchester City is a professional football club based in Manchester, England, founded in 1880 as St. Mark’s (West Gorton). It has a long history in English football, achieving major success in domestic competitions and winning its first European Cup, the UEFA Champions League, in 2023. The club plays its home matches at the Etihad Stadium in east Manchester.
Arsenal
The Arsenal is a historic military complex in Venice, Italy, founded in the early 12th century. It served as the heart of the Venetian Republic’s naval power, functioning as a state-owned shipyard and armory that pioneered early assembly-line production techniques.
Emirates Stadium
The Emirates Stadium is the home of Arsenal Football Club in London, having opened in 2006 to replace the club’s historic Highbury ground. It was built to increase capacity and modernize facilities, with its naming rights sold to the airline Emirates as part of a major sponsorship deal.
Villarreal
Villarreal is a football club based in Vila-real, Spain, founded in 1923. It is historically known for its strong community roots and remarkable rise in Spanish and European football, most notably winning the UEFA Europa League in 2021. The club’s home stadium, Estadio de la Cerámica, is a central cultural site for the city.
Chelsea
Chelsea is a historic and affluent district in West London, known for its association with the arts and fashion. Its history includes being the site of the Chelsea Royal Hospital, founded by King Charles II in 1682, and it was a hub for artists and writers during the 19th century.
Premier League
The Premier League is the top professional football division in England, founded in 1992 when clubs from the Football League First Division broke away to capitalize on lucrative television rights deals. It has since grown into one of the world’s most popular and commercially successful sports leagues, known for its global fanbase and competitive nature.
FA Cup
The FA Cup is the oldest national football competition in the world, first held in the 1871–72 season. Organized by The Football Association in England, it is a knockout tournament open to hundreds of clubs across the English league system, famous for its potential for “giant-killing” where small teams defeat much larger ones.
League Cup
The League Cup is an annual knockout football competition in England, first held in 1960–61 as a midweek tournament for clubs in the top four divisions. It is currently known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons and is one of the country’s major domestic trophies, alongside the FA Cup and the Premier League.
Champions League
The UEFA Champions League is an annual European club football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). It was first introduced in the 1955–56 season as the European Champion Clubs’ Cup, evolving into its current format in 1992 to become the most prestigious club tournament in world football.
Europa League
The UEFA Europa League is an annual football competition organized by UEFA, featuring clubs from across Europe. It was originally founded in 1971 as the UEFA Cup, before being rebranded to its current name in 2009. The tournament serves as a secondary competition to the UEFA Champions League, with the winner earning a place in the following season’s Champions League.
FIFA Club World Cup
The FIFA Club World Cup is an annual international men’s association football competition organized by FIFA, contested by the champions of the six continental confederations and the host nation’s league champion. It was first held in 2000, intended to replace the Intercontinental Cup, and has been played annually since 2005 to crown an official world club champion.
