I'm delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the group for the rest of the season. We've got a lot of big games to look forward to, including the cup semi-final, and I can't wait to take part in that opportunity as well.
When waters are choppy, you do not need some ambitious captain with notions of heading out on an adventure. All you really want is someone who can get you safely to shore. Igor Tudor is not keen on the word. Hearing it applied to him when he arrived at Juventus last season, he observed that every manager, everywhere, is living from game to game. You can have a contract for five years and get sent home after three matches, he said.
Having people who know the club, who care for the club and understand what it takes to be a Manchester United player -- that's where the club needs to be. The club has lost its identity, it's lost that family feel, if you like. Whether it's Ole [Ole Gunnar Solskjaer] or Michael, this is an opportunity to bring that back, bring the spirit of Manchester United back to the football club.
The 52-year-old, who also made over 200 appearances for the club as a player, was named interim manager in December 2018 following the sacking of Jose Mourinho. After a successful start he was handed the role full-time, leading the club for nearly three years before being dismissed in November 2021. After a lengthy spell out of the game, he returned at Besiktas in January 2025 but lasted just eight months before being sacked.
The decision to appoint Joey O'Brien as interim manager reflects the club's commitment to consistency and stability following Damien Duff's departure, ensuring a smooth transition during this critical period.
