How Jonathan Woodgate has swiftly won over Man United dressing room | OneFootball

Few fans would have predicted Manchester United’s near-flawless run under caretaker manager Michael Carrick. The Englishman took charge on a temporary basis until the end of the season in mid-January, following the departure of former head coach Ruben Amorim.

The Portuguese failed to live up to expectations during his 14-month spell at Old Trafford, with the team struggling for form and facing issues behind the scenes. Amorim oversaw a mass exodus last summer as he revamped his squad, with INEOS investing over £200 million to get the team back on track.

While the performances improved this season, the Red Devils struggled for consistency and the Portuguese continued to divide opinion among fans and pundits. The Premier League giants ultimately parted ways with Amorim at the beginning of the year and put Carrick in charge.

Since his arrival, the Englishman has overseen a spectacular turnaround in fortunes, with United registering five wins and one draw in six games under his tutelage before Sunday’s game against Crystal Palace.

Michael Carrick vs Ruben Amorim: Premier League 2025/26 Season

The former midfielder also won the Premier League Manager of the Month award for January, although he was quick to share the credit with his backroom staff. Among Carrick’s coaching staff is former Real Madrid and England defender Jonathan Woodgate, who also worked with him at Middlesbrough.

Proving Roy Keane wrong

Former United skipper Roy Keane famously went on a rant after it was announced that Woodgate and Jonny Evans would join Carrick’s coaching team. However, it may now be safe to say that both have proven the club legend wrong.

It was previously revealed how Evans was the mastermind behind Bryan Mbeumo’s cleverly crafted goal in the 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. Meanwhile, Harry Maguire has also praised Woodgate and Evans for their work behind the scenes.

It appears that the duo are having a positive effect on the players, with the Red Devils rediscovering their old never-say-die attitude since the arrival of the new coaching staff. A recent report has provided insight into Woodgate’s impact at the Theatre of Dreams.

United players happy with Woodgate

According to The Telegraph, Woodgate has developed a close bond with the players, with his fluency in Spanish appreciated by squad members who speak the language. The report states: “Woodgate, the former England, Real Madrid and Leeds defender, and another former centre-back Evans, have been working closely with the defenders on everything from body positioning to clearing headers.”

“It is telling that as much attention has been paid to the likes of Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro, who have not been playing a lot, as the regular starters and that has gone down well.”

“Woodgate has cut through quickly with the dressing room, including the Spanish speakers who appreciate his fluency in the language. ‘He’s close with the players, he can have a laugh, but he has a bit of authority about him as well,’ one source said. ‘He has that real understanding of what players want and need and what drives them.’”

Final Thoughts

Time will tell if Carrick will secure the full-time job, but should he remain in charge beyond the summer, it appears that he may already have the right backroom staff in place to help United regain their former glory.

Feature image Stu Forster via Getty Images

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