The recent appointments of Darren Fletcher and Jonny Evans at Manchester United have been mocked by Roy Keane, who accused Fletcher of seeking Alex Ferguson’s advice on everything, including the socks he wears.
Earlier this week, United confirmed the appointment of Michael Carrick as head coach on a short-term deal lasting until the end of the season.
It was later announced that former United centre-back Evans, ex-Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate and Steve Holland – England’s assistant manager under Gareth Southgate – would form Carrick’s backroom team.
Carrick’s arrival comes after his former midfield partner Fletcher took charge of two disappointing games following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim: a 2-2 Premier League draw against Burnley and a 2-1 defeat to Brighton in the FA Cup third round.
That latest defeat made this the first time since 1981-82 that United have exited both domestic cups at the first hurdle, after being surprised by Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup earlier this season.
Fletcher has reportedly turned down the opportunity to stay on as part of Carrick’s backroom team and will return to his previous role in charge of the club’s under-18 side.
Evans, meanwhile, is back at Old Trafford, just a month after leaving his role as head of the club’s loans and pathways department.
And Keane believes neither Evans nor Fletcher have earned the chance to be part of United’s set-up, accusing the former of being unable to put the Ferguson era behind them.
40 – After their early elimination from the League Cup and FA Cup, Manchester United are now guaranteed to play just 40 games in all competitions this season, the fewest since the 1914/1915 season (39). Short. pic.twitter.com/bPz9G68GFh
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 12, 2026
In a sensational chat with Gary Neville on The Overlap, Keane said: “What did Jonny Evans do to become Manchester United first-team coach?
“Jonny Evans left Man Utd as loan manager four or five weeks ago and Fletch is – strangely – giving him a job.
‘Fletch has two games, goes, and then Carrick gives him a job… it’s great, isn’t it?
“He left that job four weeks ago and now he is returning to the first team. That is a big step forward.”
“The last few weeks, before Burnley away and Brighton at home, Fletch comes in, he knows the club, he worked at the academy.
“He probably knows the girl in the cafeteria. He calls Ferguson to ask what socks he should wear in the morning. How did those two games go?”
Carrick’s first game in interim charge of the Red Devils will be at home to rivals Manchester City on Saturday – having previously secured two wins and a draw in a shorter spell in charge in 2021.
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