Ex-Man Utd star wants Michael Carrick job - 'I earned my badges'

Michael Carrick has been inundated with offers from former Manchester United team-mates

Former Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre has revealed he’d jump at the chance to reunite with Michael Carrick at Old Trafford. But the Frenchman insisted he'll only return in a director of football capacity.

Silvestre spent nine years of his playing career in Manchester and shared the pitch with Carrick during his final two seasons before joining rivals Arsenal. Despite earning his coaching badges after retiring, he opted against making the move to the dugout.

Instead, the Frenchman built a career in the front office by cutting his teeth as Rennes' director of football, and most recently held the same role at Romanian club CFR Cluj before departing earlier this year.

Silvestre isn't the only former United stalwart to offer his services to Carrick, with Wayne Rooney and Antonio Valencia both declaring they'd set aside their current commitments to support their former colleague.

The Frenchman told Grosvenor Sport: "Would these former players come back to Manchester United to work under Michael Carrick? I don't know because I believe his coaching team is already full.

"It's a department that has everyone it needs so I don't see anybody coming in from the outside to offer something extra. I earned my coaching badges but it's not for me. I'd prefer the Director of Football role which I did at Rennes after I completed my Masters in sports management.

"I will go and watch United in September and observe training but like all former players I look out for all my clubs, although I look out for United more specifically than others. I played for them for nine years, after all."

Silvestre's preferred position is currently occupied by Jason Wilcox, who was elevated to the role months after Dan Ashworth's departure. Rooney has yet to make a comeback to management since his disastrous spell at Plymouth Argyle in 2024.

Nevertheless, he admitted that joining Carrick at United would be the sole opportunity that would entice him away from his current punditry commitments. Speaking in January, the United legend said: "Of course I would. It's a no-brainer.

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"I'm not begging a job here by the way. Just so everyone knows, if I was asked to go in of course I would. Appointing the manager is the most important thing." In Valencia's case - who spent nine years in the dressing room with Carrick - the former United skipper revealed he'd take on any position due to the deep affection he holds for the club.

Currently working for Telemundo Deportes in their coverage of the World Cup, the 40-year-old told Hajper: "Yes, I would go back. Manchester United is a club that gave me so much.

"My family was very happy there. I would work for Manchester United in any role, out of passion. It is a club I love a lot. I think everything they are doing is going well. But if they called me, I would go running."

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