First team coach and former midfielder Michael Carrick displayed what a real class act he is when he voluntarily stepped down as a coach at Old Trafford \u2013 immediately prior to new gaffer Ralf Rangnick stepping into the dugout officially for the Red Devils\u2019 next encounter \u2013 after overseeing the laudable 3-2 win over Arsenal.<\/p>\n
Carrick had apparently been mulling over the matter for some time before finally deciding to step down as the first-team coach and ending his long association with the Manchester club after helming the Red Devils\u2019 one last time in Thursday\u2019s morale-boosting victory against Arsenal as the caretaker manager immediately after former boss Solskjaer was given his marching papers.<\/p>\n
After joining from Tottenham in 2006, the midfielder won Champions League honors\u00a0besides five Premier League titles in a highly successful playing career laden with trophies with United.<\/p>\n
Upon retiring in 2018 as a player, Carrick was roped into Jose Mourinho\u2019s coaching staff and then subsequently worked under Solskjaer after the Portuguese was axed. The former midfielder finally stepped in for the Norwegian following the latter\u2019s exit last month.<\/p>\n
40-year-old Carrick, clearly a pragmatist not afraid to make bold calls in managing his players, had been primarily responsible for overseeing the 2-0 Champions League victory at Villarreal and 1-1 Premier League draw at Chelsea, before beating Arsenal 3-2 at a robust Old Trafford.<\/p>\n
Thursday\u2019s thrilling match served as his last under the United banner, with the club officially announcing immediately after the game that Carrick had stepped down ahead of interim boss Ralf Rangnick\u00a0taking over at the helm.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 15 and a half years I\u2019ve been here now and it literally takes over your life,\u201d the departing first-team coach said. \u201cIt should do as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve dedicated everything I could possibly do as a player and then obviously as a coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cI promised my family when I was playing that after I\u2019d finished playing, because you put so much into it, that I\u2019d retire and we\u2019d have a bit of time together. It never happened, I came straight into coaching.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust in kind of recent days, it\u2019s just that feeling that the timing\u2019s right, it feels right.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not been easy to make the decision in that respect but in terms of family and how I feel right now I\u2019m really content and happy and looking forward to what\u2019s ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a rollercoaster, it\u2019s been amazing. I\u2019ve had incredible memories, some special nights.<\/p>\n
\u201cTonight was obviously special but tonight wasn\u2019t about me. It was the players and the fans, experiencing them type of nights which we should do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked when he had informed players and staff about his decision to leave, the caretaker boss said: \u201cI told the coaches, the immediate first-team coaches, today at around lunchtime and then I told the players straight after the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t want anything to be about me today. It was all about the players and getting the right result.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told them straight after the game in the changing room. It was emotional obviously, probably caught them off guard a little bit, but it\u2019s a terrific group of players and I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll go onto great things.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be supporting them. I\u2019m not going anywhere, I\u2019m still here, I\u2019ll be supporting them home and away.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy son is driving me mad to take him to an away game again. I\u2019ve told the players I\u2019ll be right behind them.\u201d<\/p>\n
In all, Carrick made a total of 464 appearances for United and leaves a legacy without blemish as as a club great, with football director John Murtough praising his unquestionable impact as midfielder and coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe will always be known as one of the finest midfielders in the history of Manchester United, and, more recently, as an excellent coach who has worked tirelessly under two managers to help develop the strong squad which Ralf will now take charge of,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are grateful for the steady leadership Michael has shown through this period of managerial transition, and, while he is now stepping away from day-to-day involvement, he will always be welcome back as a legend of the club.\u201d<\/p>\n
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