Silvestre wants director of football role under Carrick as United legends queue up to help

Mikael Silvestre has expressed his desire to return to Manchester United under Michael Carrick, though the former French defender insists he would only consider a director of football role rather than a position on the coaching staff.

Silvestre, who spent nine years at Old Trafford before joining Arsenal, shared the pitch with Carrick during the midfielder’s first two seasons at the club. After retiring, he earned his coaching badges but ultimately chose a front-office path, serving as director of football at Rennes and most recently at Romanian club CFR Cluj before leaving earlier this year.

“I earned my coaching badges but it’s not for me,” Silvestre said. “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.”

The position Silvestre covets is currently occupied by Jason Wilcox, who was elevated to the role following Dan Ashworth’s departure. Silvestre acknowledged the practical reality, noting that Carrick’s backroom setup appears complete. “I don’t see anybody coming in from the outside to offer something extra,” he added.

Silvestre is not alone among former United players in signalling his availability. Wayne Rooney, who has been out of management since a difficult spell at Plymouth Argyle in 2024, said in January that joining Carrick would be the one opportunity to pull him away from punditry. “Of course I would. It’s a no-brainer,” Rooney said. “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.”

Antonio Valencia, who shared a dressing room with Carrick for nine years and currently works as a pundit covering the World Cup, was similarly emphatic. “Yes, I would go back. Manchester United is a club that gave me so much,” the former United captain told Swedish outlet Hajper. “I would work for Manchester United in any role, out of passion. It is a club I love a lot.”

The outpouring of goodwill from former players underlines the affection Carrick commands among his Old Trafford contemporaries, even as the new manager works to assemble his own staff and put his stamp on the club.