“He’s slowly bringing that back”: Wayne Rooney hails Michael Carrick for restoring key part of United culture

Manchester United have always taken immense pride in their academy, which has consistently produced world-class talent for the senior side over the past century. The academy is a part of the Red Devils’ rich history and culture, and it has played a key role in their success over the years. From Sir Matt Busby’s Busby Babes to Sir Alex Ferguson’s Class of ’92, the English giants have never been averse to trusting young talents from their academy. The legendary Scottish manager famously rebuilt trophy-winning teams with the right mix of experienced players and academy graduates. However, United have struggled to replicate Sir Alex’s success since his departure, despite changing managers several times. Former head coach Ruben Amorim was replaced by caretaker manager Michael Carrick in January this year, with a permanent appointment expected in the summer. The Portuguese struggled to implement his ideas in his 14-month reign, but Carrick has been a hit, registering seven wins in 10 games and propelling the Red Devils to third in the Premier League table. Club legend Wayne Rooney has now hailed his former team-mate for helping revive the club’s academy. Carrick’s role in academy resurgence Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, United’s record goalscorer suggested that the academy has been neglected in the past decade. He said: “Yeah, it’s a big part of the club and the culture of the football club and now that’s been lost over the last, I don’t know how many years, 10 years, etc.” “So what Michael is doing, he’s slowly bringing that back. I was speaking to him the other day, actually, and every time I’ve seen him since he started the job, he’s in his Man United tracksuit. I think he’s saving money. He’s saving money. He doesn’t have to buy any clothes. He’s enchanted [with his look]. Changing your clothes, but it shows, obviously, his boys [are] in the academy as well.” “He’s in my lad’s team, but he’s there, he’s watching games, he’s studying. The academy has always been a massive part of Man United. I think it’s been a player from the academy in every squad since the club was formed. So, it’s a huge part of the academy and he’s gradually bringing that back.” Michael Carrick Managerial Stats TeamFromToGames PlayedGames WonGames DrawnGames LostWin % Manchester United (caretaker)21 November 20212 December 2021321066.7 Middlesbrough24 October 20224 June 202513663244946.3 Manchester United13 January 2026Present1072170.0 Total——14972275048.3 Source: Wikipedia. Carrick for permanent job United have had an academy graduate in their matchday squad ever since 1937, an unmatched record that stands to this day. However, it was under threat during Amorim’s reign, when Kobbie Mainoo struggled for game time and was heavily linked with an exit. The Englishman, who was at one point the sole academy graduate in the matchday squad under the Portuguese head coach, missed a game against Tottenham Hotspur in November last year due to injury, putting the record at risk. However, Amorim included Jack Fletcher in the squad to keep the record intact. Mainoo’s uncertain future under the Portuguese was also a stark contrast to the Red Devils’ tradition of trusting talented youth players. Thankfully, Carrick’s arrival revived the youngster, who has started every game under the former midfielder and has been outstanding so far. Rooney has previously argued that Carrick’s involvement with the academy makes him the right man for the full-time job. The legendary English forward reiterated his stance, adding: “Because it was in a mess [the academy], to be honest, because the managers who came in didn’t really care.” “They just wanted the first team to do well and pushed that [the academy] aside. So, it’s nice to see that come back and then you can judge what he’s doing on the pitch with the first team and they’re doing well. So, I don’t think there’s a need to change him.” Final Thoughts United’s resurgence under Carrick has captured the imagination of fans, and has certainly lifted the mood around Old Trafford. With players openly backing the Englishman for the full-time job, INEOS will be tempted to consider him for the position provided he manages a strong end to the season. Featured image George Wood via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.