‘He knows the Premier League’ — Man United legend Rooney backs former Chelsea boss to save Red Devils

Manchester United’s search for a new permanent manager has gathered pace following the appointment of Michael Carrick as interim head coach until the end of the season.

With the club enduring another turbulent campaign, club legend Wayne Rooney has weighed in on who he believes is best placed to steady the ship at Old Trafford.

Several high-profile names have been linked with the United job ahead of a planned summer appointment, including Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi.

Xabi Alonso was also mentioned as a possible option after his recent departure from Real Madrid, but Rooney played down the likelihood of the Spaniard taking the role.

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the former United captain said: “Alonso did incredible at [Bayer] Leverkusen, and I think you have more chance of him sitting and waiting and hoping with [Liverpool manager, Arne] Slot.”

Instead, Rooney made it clear that Tuchel stands out among the available candidates. “Tuchel is the one for me. He knows the Premier League, has won trophies. He is doing well at England. Time will tell,” he explained.

Rooney also described the German as the “obvious choice”, pointing to the lack of elite managers currently on the market and the scale of the challenge facing United in their current state.

While backing Tuchel, Rooney acknowledged the difficulty of the job that awaits any incoming manager at Manchester United. “It is probably the obvious choice really, because I don’t think there are any top, top managers available at the minute. I think it is the right choice at this moment in time,” he said.

He also highlighted the immediate responsibility on Carrick, adding: “Where Manchester United are at the minute is not a good place and Michael has to go in and steady the ship.”

Tuchel’s pedigree is well established after a successful spell at Chelsea, where he won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

Should United follow Rooney’s advice, Tuchel would become the second former Chelsea boss to manage the Red Devils since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, following Jose Mourinho.