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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Steven Railston

Phelan, McKenna and Carrick - what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United staff are doing now

It's almost one year since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked as Manchester United manager after a heavy defeat to Watford.

Solskjaer survived embarrassing defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City at Old Trafford last season, but United's 4-1 loss to Watford at Vicarage Road was the result that saw the Norwegian lose his job after almost three years in charge.

Michael Carrick, who was first-team coach during Solskjaer's reign, took over as caretaker manager following his dismissal and he eventually departed the club following the arrival of Ralf Rangnick, who was appointed on an interim basis.

ALSO READ: Where Man United are up to with Alejandro Garnacho contract talks

Solskjaer has recently returned to coaching in Norway, where he's taken charge of his son's under-14s team back home in Kristiansund, so what are his backroom staff doing, almost one year after he was sacked? MEN Sport have taken a closer look.

Michael Carrick

After serving under Jose Mourinho, Carrick was retained as first-team coach under Solskjaer and he was a valued member of his backroom staff. Carrick took caretaker charge of United after Solskjaer's sacking and he was in that role for three games.

The former midfielder oversaw wins against Villarreal and Arsenal and a draw against Chelsea during his spell on the touchline and he decided to take a break after leaving Old Trafford in December, although he's now returned to coaching.

Michael Carrick is at Middlesbrough. (2022 Getty Images)

Carrick took his first job in management last month when accepting an offer to become Middlesbrough boss and he's won three matches, drawn and lost once in his five games in the Championship so far.

In his first press conference at Middlesbrough, Carrick said he needed to leave United because it was his 'comfort zone'.

Mike Phelan

Mike Phelan signed a new contract at United in October 2021, just one month before Solskjaer was sacked. Although the prominent figures of Solskjaer's staff followed him through the exit door, Phelan remained at the club.

There was confusion about what Phelan, who was Solskjaer's assistant manager, actually did during Rangnick's tenure, but it's understood he was consulted by the German in his final months as interim manager.

After 20 years of service with the club as a player and coach, Phelan departed from United's coaching staff in the summer following Erik ten Hag's appointment. He is also chairman of 'Sensible Soccer', which is a football equipment and coaching business.

Kieran McKenna

Kieran McKenna joined United from Tottenham in 2016 and he progressed to the first-team staff under Mourinho. McKenna continued on United's coaching staff after Solskjaer's appointment and he was highly regarded as a first-team coach.

After Solskjaer was sacked, McKenna left United and took his first job in management with Ipswich Town in League One. Ipswich finished in midtable last season, but they are now second in the table under McKenna, who has impressed at Portman Road.

Ipswich have scored the second-most goals in the league with McKenna, who is still just 36 years old, in charge and he's been widely praised for the job he's doing at the club, with the bookmakers pricing them as favourites for promotion.

McKenna is doing a fine job at Ipswich. (2022 CameraSport)

Martyn Pert

Solskjaer brought strength and conditioning specialist Martyn Pert to United shortly after his appointment. Pert had previously enjoyed stints with Watford, Cardiff and Coventry, while also working with MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps.

Pert was another to follow Solskjaer through the exit door last year, but he quickly returned to work, joining McKenna at Ipswich. Pert was appointed as McKenna's assistant manager and he's now playing a key role in Ipswich's promotion charge.

Darren Fletcher

Solskjaer promoted Fletcher from his academy coaching role to the first team during his tenure. Fletcher was then promoted again in March 2021 when the club announced he had been chosen to become the inaugural technical director at Old Trafford.

Fletcher remains in that position and he's a regular presence at academy fixtures. His role involves working closely with football director John Murtough, 'to add technical input and direction into all football and performance areas'.

Fletcher is technical director. (2022 Manchester United FC)

Richard Hartis

Richard Hartis was the goalkeeper coach on Solskjaer's staff and he remains in that position at the club under Ten Hag.

The Manchester Evening News recently revealed that Hartis played a role in signing Martin Dubravka, by making enquiries about the Slovakian, on loan from Newcastle on deadline day, as he wanted a goalkeeper that could 'push' David de Gea.

Eric Ramsay

Eric Ramsay was appointed as United's first set-piece specialist and individual development coach in the summer of 2021.

Ramsay became the youngest Brit to gain his UEFA Pro Licence badge three years ago, which is the top coaching qualification in the game, and he arrived at the club with a lofty reputation despite being in the early stages of his career.

He stayed at United after Solskjaer was sacked and he's since been retained by Ten Hag.

Ramsay remains on Ten Hag's staff. (2022 AMA Sports Photo Agency)

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