Wayne Rooney explains why Steve Holland is a smart move by Carrick

Wayne Rooney has shared his thoughts on Michael Carrick’s decision to bring Steve Holland into Manchester United’s setup, following the latter’s recent appointment.

Carrick stepped in as interim head coach and didn’t waste any time adding Holland to his staff, a move that raised plenty of eyebrows.

The former midfielder hasn’t previously worked alongside Holland, who was officially brought back to Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Holland will serve as Carrick’s assistant during this interim period, and his addition to the coaching staff hasn’t gone unnoticed. The 55-year-old brings plenty of experience, having spent years working under Gareth Southgate with England.

His influence during that spell was often highlighted by players and coaches alike. With Carrick now leading Manchester United, having someone like Holland in his corner could prove valuable as they try to steady the ship for the rest of the season.

Wayne Rooney shares his thoughts on Steve Holland joining Michael Carrick at Manchester United

Wayne Rooney got to know Steve Holland towards the end of his England career, during Gareth Southgate’s time in charge of the national team.

Holland’s run with England came to an end after Southgate stepped down as manager following the Three Lions’ loss in the Euro 2024 final.

Speaking on his podcast, the former United striker praised Holland’s tactical knowledge and believes he was a strong addition to Carrick’s backroom staff.

“I think Steve Holland’s a really good appointment as well,” Rooney said on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show. “I worked with him with England, and tactically, he’s very good. So yeah, we’re all in hope as well.”

What Michael Carrick hopes to achieve during his Man Utd interim tenure

Michael Carrick is set to address the media for the first time as Manchester United’s interim head coach ahead of their match against Manchester City on Saturday.

The former Middlesbrough manager discussed his approach on United’s official podcast, explaining how he plans to manage the team during his time in charge.

“You want to win games, it goes without saying, we want to win games,” he told Inside Carrington, as per Manchester United’s official website.

“There’s different ways of doing it, of course, different scenarios, different situations in games that [mean] you might have to play a certain way.”

Carrick added: “But I think for me it’s [about] working with the players. I love working with the players and helping them get better individually, which hopefully will help the team improve and [I want to] be there to support them.”