MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United has gone from full-blown crisis to within sight of a Champions League return since calling on Michael Carrick.

Seven wins from nine games have transformed the mood around Old Trafford — lifting United to third in the Premier League and prompting club great Wayne Rooney to declare Carrick the man to bring the good times back.

"One hundred percent he should (get the job)," Rooney told the BBC after United's 3-1 win against Aston Villa on Sunday. "We have seen the players play with more quality, more togetherness as a team, and they look like a very strong team. Why would you change?"

Carrick was hired in January as temporary coach to rescue a season that was imploding under former boss Ruben Amorim. The former United midfielder, who won five Premier League titles and the Champions League during a trophy-laden playing career with United, was only given a contract until the end of the season, as United weighed up its long-term options.

But United's turnaround — going from sixth when Amorim was fired to third following a string of wins that included games against Manchester City and Arsenal — has led to growing calls for Carrick to get a long-term deal.

"It's only noise if you listen to it. It doesn't affect me one bit," Carrick said after the win against Villa. "I'm in this position at the moment, doing the best I can.

"Whatever's going to happen is going to happen."

Competition for the role

Speculation was rife regarding potential candidates to take over when Amorim was fired in January — becoming the sixth permanent United manager, or head coach, to be discarded since club great Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Thomas Tuchel, Oliver Glasner, Julian Nagelsmann, Roberto De Zerbi and Luis Enrique were among a slew of reported options.

The field appears to have narrowed, with Tuchel signing an extension with England and Glasner and De Zerbi failing to enhance their reputations over the past few months.

Glasner's Palace was dumped out of the FA Cup by sixth-tier Macclesfield and is currently 14th in the league standings. De Zerbi left Marseille last month following a 5-0 defeat to Enrique's Paris Saint-Germain. Carrick, meanwhile, has likely pushed his own name up the list as United's sporting director Jason Wilcox considers plans beyond this season.

The case for an extension

United's results and the manner in which Carrick has handled himself suggest he is not overawed by the challenge of leading one of the world's most storied sports teams.

He had an outstanding career as a player at Old Trafford and was also an assistant to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when he moved into coaching.

"I know what it takes to succeed here; my focus is now on helping the players to reach the standards that we expect at this incredible club," Carrick said when he was appointed.

He has so far produced effective soccer that has also entertained — getting the best out of players like Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.

Academy product Kobbie Mainoo has been reinvigorated under Carrick after being largely overlooked by Amorim.

Carrick appears to have had a calming effect on a club that felt like it was in turmoil before his appointment.

The case against

Even after his impressive start in the job, it would be a gamble for United to go with someone so inexperienced as a top level coach.

Carrick's only head coach role was at second division Middlesbrough from 2022-25, and he was unable to lead it to promotion to the Premier League.

United turned to a former player when hiring Solskjaer as Jose Mourinho's successor in 2018. The Norwegian enjoyed a flying start — including a memorable Champions League win against PSG — but he ultimately failed to deliver a trophy in almost three years in charge, despite leading United to a secondplace finish in 2021.

The fear would be that, after an initial bounce under Carrick, his lack of experience would tell in the long run.

United's good run has also come at a time when the club is not involved in any other competition and playing one game a week. Aging players like Casemiro and Harry Maguire are not being overworked and proving to be key figures with a reduced schedule.

How would Carrick be able to juggle a league campaign at the same time as the Champions League and two domestic cup competitions?

Could he break the mold?

United has tried just about everything and still failed to avoid more than a decade of decline following Ferguson's departure.

It went down the route of the top tier, tried and tested in the form of serial winners Louis van Gaal and Mourinho, but neither could deliver the Premier League title.

David Moyes was a well-established top-flight manager, while both Erik ten Hag and Amorim came in as title winners in overseas leagues.

None have reached the standards required.

Solskjaer was an iconic player — part of the club's DNA — and, despite having the affection of the fans, ultimately came up short.

Carrick is another throwback to United's glorious past when it dominated England and Europe.

He is strengthening his case with every win. Should United maintain this form until the end of the season, it will be very difficult for the club's hierarchy to look past him.

Agencies via Xinhua