Former Manchester United striker Michael Owen has voiced strong support for Michael Carrick to be appointed as the club’s permanent manager, insisting he is surprised that the former midfielder’s candidacy is still being debated.
Carrick, who made 464 appearances for United during his playing career, stepped in as caretaker head coach following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim in January. Since taking charge, the 44-year-old has overseen an impressive run of results, winning six of his first eight matches and guiding the club from sixth to third place in the Premier League standings.
Owen, who shared a dressing room with Carrick at Old Trafford between 2009 and 2012, believes the interim manager has helped stabilise the club during a turbulent period.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, Owen said Carrick had restored a sense of calm around the team and questioned why the club would hesitate to offer him the position on a permanent basis.
Owen argued that United have spent more than a decade searching for the right managerial formula since the departure of legendary coach Alex Ferguson, experimenting with a range of high-profile and experienced appointments. In his view, the club should reward Carrick if he continues delivering results and secures a strong league finish.
Former United captain Wayne Rooney echoed that sentiment, stating that Carrick has the support of players and staff throughout the club.
Rooney suggested that while there may be caution internally about making the appointment permanent, Carrick’s early impact has been significant and has reminded supporters of the stability and identity associated with the Ferguson era.
Despite the positive momentum under Carrick, Manchester United are understood to be assessing a number of managerial candidates ahead of the summer, with the interim coach among those under consideration.
The discussion also revisited a long-running comparison between Owen and Rooney regarding their early careers.
The debate initially resurfaced last year when Owen suggested that, at the age of 17, he believed he had been the more accomplished player, though he acknowledged that Rooney ultimately enjoyed the greater overall career.
During the podcast, Owen reflected on the similarities between their early international breakthroughs. He emerged as a teenage star for England at the 1998 World Cup, while Rooney captured global attention six years later with his performances at UEFA Euro 2004.
Owen explained that he had spent several years establishing himself as England’s leading striker before Rooney’s rapid rise introduced fierce competition for the role.
Rooney, however, was quick to pay tribute to his former team-mate, recalling how he idolised Owen during his childhood.
The former England captain revealed that he often imagined himself as Owen during the 1998 World Cup while playing football in his garden, making it particularly memorable when he eventually found himself lining up alongside his boyhood inspiration for the national team.
