Teddy Sheringham believes 'overlooked' Man Utd legend is angry over job snub

Michael Carrick was given the nod until the end of the season (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United legend Teddy Sheringham has suggested Roy Keane ’s brutal criticism of Michael Carrick may come from ‘frustration’ having not been offered the manager’s job himself.

After sacking Ruben Amorim earlier this month , United turned to Carrick to take the reins until the end of the season while the club seek out a permanent option.

The former midfielder, who took charge of four games as interim boss in 2021, was given the nod ahead of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with Ruud van Nistelrooy , another former star who had a brief spell in charge, also considered. Carrick’s interim role at Old Trafford is his first job back in the dugout since he was sacked by Middlesbrough last June.

Keane’s name was put forward by a number of his former teammates including Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt although the former Ireland captain was never considered a viable option by INEOS.

In the lead up to last Saturday’s derby match against Manchester City, Keane labelled the situation a ‘circus’, suggesting Carrick’s time at Middlesbrough was a ‘failure’ having also taken aim at the coaching staff, including former defender Jonny Evans . There was also a bizarre dig aimed at Michael Carrick’s wife Lisa , stemming from a social media post made 14 years ago.

Sheringham spent four years playing alongside Keane in perhaps the club’s most successful period in history, winning the Treble in 1998-99 and two more Premier League titles before leaving the club in 2021.

While believing United ‘could do a lot worse’ than bringing in their former captain, Sheringham believes Keane may feel a sense of injustice having been overlooked.

Keane blasted Carrick’s appointment (Picture: Getty)

Speaking to Metro , speaking on behalf of BetMGM , the former England star was asked if the criticism from United’s former heroes has been fuelled by frustration with no longer being involved at Old Trafford. Sheringham said: ‘Maybe, when you talk about Roy Keane, that might be the situation.

‘He was a manager not so long ago and obviously would have had his eyes on the Man United job at one point after learning his trade at Sunderland and Ipswich. He would have been thinking, “one day”. And he’s been overlooked. So maybe there is a case of that.

@metrosportuk Is Carrick a good choice for United? 🤷‍♂️ Manchester United legend Michael Carrick has reportedly emerged as the favourite to step in as caretaker manager for the Red Devils following Ruben Amorim’s sacking, is it actually a good idea to bring him in? #carrick #manchesterunited #middlesbrough #premierleague #championship ♬ original sound - Metro Sport

Mainoo could be reborn following Amorim's exit (Picture: Getty)

‘Listen, you could do a lot worse than putting Roy Keane in charge and having that sort of influence over things. But having said that, Michael Carrick is in now and I like his manner, the way he is as a person and I think he will do well.’

While there is still plenty to prove, Carrick silenced many of his early doubters as United turned in perhaps their best performance of the season to sweep aside City last weekend.

There was another storm ahead of that game after disparaging remarks made by two other club legends in Scholes and Butt who suggested Erling Haaland would ‘pick up Lisandro Martinez like a toddler’.

Sheringham’s says Scholes’ criticism ‘part of playing for United’ (Picture: Getty Images)

Martinez responded with a superb performance up against the City striker, hitting back at Scholes and Butt after the game with the row continuing into this week.