Manchester United have announced Michael Carrick is leaving the club as first-team coach after spending 15 years at the club.
Carrick joined United from Tottenham for £18.6million in 2006 and won five Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the League Cups, the Champions League, the Europa League and the Club World Cup.
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The 40-year-old was promoted to the United coaching staff by Jose Mourinho in 2018, and then retained by Ole Gunnar Solksjaer when Jose Mourinho was sacked.
After Solksjaer was sacked in November, Carrick took caretaker charge of United for three games, presiding over a 2-0 win against Villarreal, a 1-1 draw at Chelsea and the comeback triumph against Arsenal on Thursday, December 2.
Minutes after the final whistle of the uplifting 3-2 victory against Arsenal, United issued a statement confirming Carrick’s departure and that Ralf Rangnick is now the official interim manager.
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Carrick said: ““It is 100% my decision,” Carrick said. “I respect a new manager coming in. I made the decision before speaking to him. It wasn’t an easy one but [it is the] right decision for the club. The loyalty to Ole is a little bit of a factor but there were a lot of things that came into my decision.
“I was conscious of making my decision before any real conversations with Ralf. I wanted to be clearcut. It was nothing personal at all. He’s got a good group of players to work with and hopefully we’ll look back at this as being a big result.
“I’m proud of the players over the past three games. I just told them and they were a bit shocked and surprised, a bit emotional in the changing room.”
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United’s football director John Murtough added:
“Michael leaves with the sincerest thanks and best wishes of everyone at Manchester United after 15 years of exceptional service to the club as a player and as a coach. While we are sad to see him go, we respect and understand Michael’s decision.
“He 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.
“We 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.”
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