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Roy Keane's Surprising U-turn on Michael Carrick's Manchester United Future

Roy Keane has made a surprising U-turn in his stance on Michael Carrick potentially becoming the permanent Manchester United manager. While still cautious about Carrick's ability to deliver a league title, Keane now expresses hope that his former teammate secures the Old Trafford hot seat. But he warns fans that recent wins do not solve the club's long term issues.

Roy Keane's Surprising U-turn on Michael Carrick's Manchester United Future

Roy Keane has admitted he "hopes" Michael Carrick is handed the permanent Manchester United job, marking a surprise softening of his stance on the interim boss. While the former captain remains skeptical about whether Carrick can deliver a league title, he conceded his former teammate has "took advantage" of the role. However, Keane urged caution, warning fans that recent wins do not solve the club's long term issues.United legend Keane has offered a surprising show of support for Carrick, stating that he hopes his former teammate secures the Old Trafford hot seat on a permanent basis. Speaking on The Overlappodcast, Keane appeared to backtrack on his previous assertions that the club needed to look elsewhere, admitting that the 44-year-old’s impressive start to life as interim boss has altered the conversation.Carrick has enjoyed a blistering start to his tenure, securing high-profile victories over Manchester City and Arsenal. The results have evidently resonated with Keane, even if the pundit remains professionally torn on the decision."I hope they give it [the permanent job] to him," Keane said. "I hope they give it to him in the summer. I don't think it's the right decision, good luck with it. Yeah, but, I'm sticking to my guns. I've said my piece, I think that he's got the job, and if he gets it in the summer then you go 'listen, good luck to him'."Despite his personal well-wishes, Keane was keen to differentiate between the short-term impact of a caretaker manager and the gruelling demands of a permanent appointment. The former United skipper warned that while Carrick has stabilised the ship, leading the club to a Premier League title requires a different skillset entirely."As a caretaker manager, it's a different animal to being manager of United trying to win league titles over the next two, three, four, five years, whatever it might be," Keane explained.He maintained his belief that, objectively, the club could aim higher in their search for a long-term successor. "I think you can get a better manager than Carrick, absolutely. But I think he's doing a good job, perfect timing for him."Keane drew parallels between Carrick’s current situation and that of Ruud van Nistelrooy, who also enjoyed a successful interim spell at the club following Erik ten Hag's sacking. After Ruben Amorim was appointed, Van Nistelrooy left and ended up taking over as Leicester coach, overseeing their relegation to the Championship. The Irishman noted that regardless of whether United offer Carrick a permanent deal, his reputation will be significantly bolstered in a similar fashion."Even if he doesn't get the United job, these results a bit like Ruud [Van Nistelrooy], he can get another job, probably another Premiership manager," Keane observed. "But just because you're doing well at United, it doesn't mean he'll do well at another club. He's got the players back, it's all been sliding doors moments. Great for him, and he's took advantage of it."Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingTrue to form, Keane refused to get swept up in the euphoria of recent results. While he acknowledged the "excellent" attacking football that put Arsenal to the sword, he was quick to highlight the defensive vulnerabilities that were exposed during that same match."It's still only two games," Keane warned, urging supporters to temper their expectations. "United beat Liverpool earlier in the season. They've found ways to win games of football before. It's definitely been better, but let's see over the next few months and the next year or two. Let's not get carried away. The attacking play has been excellent, but they gave up two goals at Arsenal."With two wins from two under his belt, Carrick will hope to further boost his standing with the United fans and his fellow club legends by guiding them to victory against Fulham on Sunday.

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Roy Keane's Change of Heart

In a recent appearance on The Overlap podcast, Roy Keane shared a shift in his opinion regarding Michael Carrick's future at Manchester United. Previously skeptical about Carrick being the long-term solution, Keane now voices his support for his former teammate.

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Carrick's Impressive Start

Under Carrick's caretaker management, Manchester United secured notable victories against Manchester City and Arsenal. The positive results have influenced Keane's softened stance towards Carrick's suitability for the permanent role.

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Cautious Optimism

Despite expressing hope for Carrick's appointment, Keane emphasizes the significant distinction between managing as a caretaker and holding the reigns permanently. He stresses that leading the club to a Premier League title requires a different level of skill and consistency.

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High Expectations for a Permanent Manager

Keane maintains that while Carrick is performing well in his current role, Manchester United could aim higher in their search for a long-term successor. He suggests that the club could potentially secure a manager with a more extensive track record of success.

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Tempering Expectations

Keane cautions fans against getting carried away with the recent wins, pointing out defensive vulnerabilities that were apparent even in victorious matches. He encourages a realistic perspective on United's performances going forward.

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Future Prospects for Carrick

Even if Carrick does not secure the permanent managerial position at United, Keane believes that his recent successes will enhance his reputation and potentially open up opportunities at other clubs in the Premier League.

Published on Jan 29, 2026