Wayne Rooney's Man United Jurgen Klopp admission as he makes manager prediction

Michael Carrick has landed an interim head coaching role with Manchester United for the remainder of the season, but Wayne Rooney has explained who he would like to see take up the Old Trafford hot seat

Wayne Rooney has admitted that he would have "loved" to have seen Jurgen Klopp at Manchester United before he joined Liverpool, while ruling out Xabi Alonso of taking a job with the Reds this summer. It's been a whirlwind month at Old Trafford, with the United board rushing for a successor to Ruben Amorim.

The Portuguese tactician was sacked at the turn of the year, despite improved performances with the club when compared to 2024/25's lacklustre 15th-place finish. While Darren Fletcher took up a caretaker role for United's matches with Burnley and Brighton, Michael Carrick was appointed as the club's new interim head coach this week.

It is understood that Carrick will try to guide his club to the best possible Premier League finish this season, before United assess their options in the summer. As a result, a number of names have been linked with taking up permanent tenure at Manchester United for 2026/27.

While the likes of Oliver Glasner and Gareth Southgate have emerged as potential favourites to pick up the pieces in a few months, Klopp has also emerged as a longshot - priced at 100/1 at the time of writing by some bookmakers.

Due to his longstanding affinity to Liverpool, where he helped United's bitter rivals secure a Premier League and a Champions League title apiece, it is highly unlikely that the German would find himself as the next coach at the Theatre of Dreams.

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However, Rooney has recently admitted that he would have liked to have seen Klopp take up tenure with his former club ahead of his nine-year stint with Liverpool. Speaking on a recent instalment of The Wayne Rooney Show, the 40-year-old explained: "I think before Liverpool, I would have loved Klopp.

"But I don't think you could bring Klopp in or Alonso, for me. Alonso did incredible at Leverkusen, and I think you've more chance of him sitting, and waiting and hoping that Arne Slot leaves."

It comes as Alonso has also been linked with taking up tenure with United as of recent, having parted ways with Real Madrid on Monday after just seven-and-a-half months.

Rooney was also quick to clarify that Thomas Tuchel would be his head coach of choice at present, given he is Premier League proven. He added: "Tuchel was the one for me. I just think he knows the Premier League, he's won trophies, he's doing well at England. Time will tell."

It comes as Carrick will be thrown in at the deep end on Saturday afternoon in his first game in charge of Manchester United, when he comes up against Pep Guardiola's Cityzens in the Manchester Derby.

Just 10 points separate the two teams at the time of writing, with United sitting seventh while City occupy second, and the match could prove pivotal for both clubs for differing reasons.

City are eager to knock Arsenal off the top spot in the league as Guardiola chases his seventh title in the English top flight.

United, meanwhile, are eager on securing European football for next season, with just a single point separating them from the top five at present. The action gets underway at 12.30pm at Old Trafford on Saturday.