Michael Carrick & 6 former Man Utd men who are currently thriving as managers

While plenty of former Manchester United players have crashed and burned as managers, others have managed to forge an excellent coaching career.

Wayne Rooney was the latest former United man to lose his managerial job after a dismal run of form with Birmingham City which saw them tumble down the Championship.

However, there are plenty of former United players and coaches who have made a name for themselves in the managerial dug-out.

We’ve identified seven former Red Devils who are all currently thriving as managers in 2024.

Michael Carrick

The Middlesbrough boss has done an excellent job since his arrival at the club in October 2022. He inherited a side that was languishing around the relegation zone and almost instantly turned them into promotion chasers.

This time around he’s been hamstrung by an unprecedented injury list, but he’s still managed to get a tune out of his group. Carrick’s side are currently just three points off the playoffs and are also in the EFL Cup semi-final.

Middlesbrough managed to get the better of Chelsea in the semi-final first leg and Carrick took plenty of plaudits for the way he managed that game.

He looks like a Premier League boss in the making.

"The lads were just exceptional" ????

Michael Carrick on Middlesbrough's performance against Chelsea. pic.twitter.com/PmpbdLkxBA

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 9, 2024

Kieran McKenna

McKenna held a coaching position at Old Trafford for five years between 2016-2021. He first worked as a youth coach before he was then promoted to the first-team coaching staff under Jose Mourinho.

Since leaving Old Trafford, McKenna’s reputation has grown immensely. He guided Ipswich Town to promotion from League One in his first full season with the club and he’s now got them competing at the top of the Championship.

Rubbing shoulders with the Championship big boys like Leicester, Southampton and Leeds, Ipswich have undoubtedly been the surprise package of 2023-24 so far.

They play a high-tempo brand of football and are one of the most enjoyable sides in England to watch. As things stand, Ipswich are on course to finish the season with over 96 points which would be their best-ever points return in the Championship.

Mark Robins

Robins came through the United academy ranks in the eighties and scored 16 goals for the club in 61 appearances between 1988–1992.

Fast forward to 2024 and he’s now one of the best managers in the EFL. It’s tough to hold down a managerial job in the modern era, but Robins hasn’t had such troubles.

After over six years with Coventry City, Robins is by far the longest-serving manager in the Championship. He’s done an excellent job in that time too, with two promotions under his belt already.

Last season, Coventry agonisingly lost the playoff final to Luton Town on penalties, but they are among the promotion candidates once again. They currently sit sixth in the table, having only lost one of their last 13 matches.

Darren Ferguson

The son of Sir Alex Ferguson, Darren managed to make 28 senior appearances for United in the nineties before crafting a career elsewhere.

Since retiring from professional football in 2008, he has done a good job as a manager. Currently on his fourth different spell as Peterborough United boss, Ferguson’s side sit second in League One.

Posh currently boast the longest unbeaten run in League One and are projected to finish the season with 94 points. That’s not bad going.

Cooking ????#pufc pic.twitter.com/0HGVzbdiS8

— Peterborough United (@theposh) January 13, 2024

David Healy

Healy was a product of the United Academy, but he only managed three senior appearances for the club before he forged a career elsewhere.

After hanging up his boots in 2013, the former striker quickly turned his attention to coaching. Impressively, he’s managed to hold the Linfield job down since 2015.

During that time, Healy has managed over 400 games in Northern Ireland and he’s won 11 trophies, including five league titles. He could make it six this year too as Linfield currently top the NIFL Premiership.

Henning Berg

The former United defender managed to guide Swedish side AIK to safety last season. He inherited a side that sat just one place above the relegation zone but turned their fortunes around with a good run at the backend of the campaign.

“There have been other options, yes,” Berg told Fotbolkanalen last year when he took the AIK job. “There has been interest from several clubs. Some I have said no to and some have chosen other coaches. It is normal.

“I haven’t applied for a Premier League job since then, but of course, I’ve talked to a few clubs and when AIK came into the picture, it was very interesting.”

Richie Wellens

Wellens made a total of 698 appearances in his playing career and the first of those games came for United in the 1999–2000 season.

Since hanging up his boots in 2016, Wellens has established himself as a solid manager in the EFL. He already has two promotions from League Two under his belt and is currently doing a fine job with Leyton Orient.

Following their promotion last season, Wellens currently has Leyton Orient in the top half of League One which is good going.

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