Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick has shared his thoughts on the recent sacking of his former team-mate Wayne Rooney, stating that the success of players in their playing careers becomes “irrelevant” when they transition into management. Rooney, who played alongside Carrick for both Manchester United and England, was dismissed from his managerial role at Birmingham this week after just 15 games in charge.
Despite Rooney’s illustrious playing career that included multiple Premier League titles and a Champions League triumph, Carrick emphasized the challenges of managing a team and noted that past successes don’t necessarily translate into managerial success. Carrick highlighted the similar struggles faced by contemporaries Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard in their early coaching careers.
Speaking on Thursday, Carrick acknowledged the difficulty of the managerial role, saying, “It’s not easy, it’s challenging. Player or no player, it almost becomes irrelevant in some way. You are judged for how good or how successful you are or what you’re achieving in the role that you’re in. It’s me sitting here now, the boys are playing on Saturday, I’m in a totally different role. It in some ways becomes irrelevant what’s gone on in the past; it’s about what’s next.”
Carrick, whose Middlesbrough side is set to host Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, expressed confidence in Rooney’s ability to bounce back from the disappointment at Birmingham and succeed in a managerial role. Rooney, in his first managerial position, faced challenges with Derby County’s relegation from the Championship in 2021 and a brief stint with American side DC United.
“I’m bitterly disappointed for Wayne, knowing him as a friend, and I know he’ll bounce back; I know he’ll be a success. He’s too good, he’s too knowledgeable, and he’s had too much experience to not use that in the right way,” Carrick stated, expressing belief in Rooney’s resilience and capabilities to overcome setbacks.
