Shrewsbury Town officially sack former Manchester United player as manager

It has been the dream start to life as interim manager at Manchester United for Michael Carrick.

Wins against Manchester City and Arsenal have seen the United fanbase receive hope for the rest of the season.

Currently in fourth place and with their shortest fixture total since the 1914/15 season, there is a great belief that the club can return to the UEFA Champions League.

This is Carrick’s second spell as interim manager, after managing Middlesbrough until the end of last season.

Carrick is not the only former Man United player to have dabbled in management.

Wayne Rooney has managed Derby County, DC United, Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle.

Roy Keane managed Sunderland and Ipswich Town and Laurent Blanc has been in charge of the French national team and Paris Saint-Germain.

Mark Hughes and Steve Bruce have both had long careers in English football management.

Hughes managed Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Stoke City and Southampton to name a few, as well as the Welsh national team.

Bruce has taken charge of Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic, Sunderland, Newcastle United and Aston Villa amongst many others.

Ryan Giggs, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy have all managed Man United, either in a caretaker position or full-time.

Giggs also managed the Welsh side and helped them secure qualification to EURO 2020, until he was relived of his duties due to off the field issues.

Carrick’s start to life at United has earned him rave reviews, but he is not the only ex-United player to make headlines this week.

Shrewsbury Town have announced the departure of Michael Appleton as manager, along with assistant Richard O’Donnell.

Appleton has been relived of his duties, news that follows yesterday’s 1-0 defeat to Cambridge United, their sixth in their last seven games.

It has been a difficult run of form for Shrewsbury.

Across the last three months,  they have won just four times in all competitions in 17 attempts.

Their recent run of form has seen Shrewsbury languish in 21st place in the League Two table, with only Bristol Rovers (22nd), Newport County (23rd) and Harrogate Town (24th) lower than them.

Shrewsbury have released a statement on the departure of Appleton

“Michael and Richard have conducted themselves with professionalism and integrity since arriving in Shropshire in March last year.

“We would like to thank them both for all their hard work during their time at the football club. We wish them the best of luck for the future.

“The process of appointing a new head coach is underway.

“We will update supporters as soon as we are able to.”

Michael Appleton, who retired at the age of 27 due to injury, was part of United’s youth academy and was one year too young to be part of the famous ‘Class of 92’.

He made two appearances for the club but nether of these came in the Premier League.