Mike Phelan, Kieran McKenna and Michael Carrick will all keep their jobs in the Manchester United coaching staff after the announcement of Ralf Rangnick as interim manager, according to reports from Manchester today. Manchester United confirmed the appointment of Rangnick this morning, subject to a work visa.
It's been confirmed today that German has joined the Red Devils for six months as interim manager and he'll then continue to work for the club as a consultant for another two years. Michael Carrick will still be in charge of the side until Rangnick's work visa is approved and he can join the squad. The former RB Leipzig manager made a statement where he expressed his excitement in joining Manchester United.
"I am excited to be joining Manchester United and focused on making this a successful season for the club. The squad is full of talent.
"All my efforts will be on helping these players fulfil their potential, both individually and, most importantly, as a team."#MUFC pic.twitter.com/a3GKC42MuH— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 29, 2021
The Daily Mail, amongst others, are reporting that McKenna, Phelan and Carrick will stay on while Ragnick is expected to bring a number of coaches with him, including video analyst Lars Kornetka. The Manchester Evening News say there is some uncertainty about the future of Phelan's role, though the 59-year-old did sign a three-year contract to stay on at the club this year. First team coach Martyn Pert and goalkeeping coaches Craig Mawson and Richard Hartis are also expected to keep their jobs.
Reaction to Manchester United keeping the same coaching staff
Many fans believed that after Ole Gunnar Solksjaer was sacked, his coaching team would follow quickly after. However it looks like Phelan, McKenna and Carrick will all stay until the end of the season at least. Some fans aren't thrilled with this as some feel that they had just as much responsibility for United's failure as Solksjaer did because they took the day-to-day training of the squad.
Scapegoating Solskjaer then. Let him do an interview to benefit the club and now leaving him out to dry. Disgusting tbh. He didn't even coach the team yet those that did are staying!
— Dan 🇾🇪 (@DanUtd88) November 29, 2021
The role of Kieran McKenna, in particular, has been under scrutiny for some time. The Fermanagh man has been an assistant coach at Old Trafford since 2018 and has witnessed the departures of both Mourinho and Solskjaer. Paul Scholes lead the chorus of criticism against the Manchester United coaching staff, when he said they should be "embarrassed" to still be at the club ahead of the Villareal match.
"I'd be almost embarrassed being on the staff now, I think they all should have gone."
"Ole trusted them each week, they've let the club down just as much."
No holding back from Paul Scholes on Solskjaer’s staff remaining in charge of Man Utd.#UCL pic.twitter.com/g2M6wHcSmv— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 23, 2021
There were rumours swirling after the defeat to Liverpool that that McKenna was unpopular among the players and he was linked with a return to Tottenham Hotspur, the club he coached previously before joining United.
It was somewhat unlikely that Rangnick would bring in a whole new coaching staff as he is only manager for the next 6 months before moving upstairs. However when a permanent manager is appointed next summer, it wouldn't be a surprise if Phelan, Carrick and McKenna all leave or move away from the first team.
See Also: Watch: Roy Keane & Jamie Carragher Have Huge Fight Over Cristiano Ronaldo
