For the first time in a long time, it feels like Manchester United are finally back on track under the guidance of Erik ten Hag.
After dispensing with the services of club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back in November 2021, the Old Trafford hierarchy opted to appoint an interim boss to give them time to consider their options. While that was deemed a controversial decision at the time, the impact that Ten Hag has made in just a few short months has already vindicated United's decision to wait for the Dutchman.
But that doesn't necessarily mean that the club got everything right after deciding that Solskjaer was no longer the right man to lead them forward.
Initially, the club turned to Solskjaer's support staff after his departure; Michael Carrick was tasked with steadying the ship while Manchester United pursued Ralf Rangnick. And it was the highly-rated German who was tasked with taking charge until the end of the 2021/22 campaign rather than Carrick, who impressed during a brief three-game spell at the helm.
Unfortunately, Rangnick was unable to arrest United's slide and oversaw a calamitous second half of the season. But while Rangnick's reputation has taken a battering, Carrick has enhanced his since leaving Old Trafford.
The former West Ham and Tottenham midfielder has flourished since accepting his first permanent role in senior management with Middlesbrough in the Championship.
The Teeside outfit were slumped in 22nd place and just three points off the bottom of the table after Carrick was defeated by Preston in his first match at the helm. Since then, Boro have won 10 of their 13 league games and surged into promotion contention.
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Burnley and Sheffield United have looked a league apart all season, but since Carrick's arrival at the end of October, Middlesbrough have emerged as the best of the rest in the second-tier - and they've done it in style, too.
Boro have gone from toothless to ruthless under the tutelage of their new head coach: an aggressive pressing approach has led to a tally of 27 goals in 14 games to propel the club back into the upper echelons of the league; a feat that looked highly unlikely during the reign of his predecessor, Chris Wilder.
Carrick's impressive work at the Riverside Stadium has led to suggestions that, perhaps, Manchester United should have considered keeping him in charge rather than turning to Rangnick, who would go on to lead United to their worst-ever finish in the Premier League era.
Speaking last month, Carrick revealed that he had been urged by Solskjaer to take the job when he was approached by United following the Norwegian's dismissal. The multi-time Premier League winner told The Daily Mail "I didn't just take the job and forget about Ole. He was the first one I spoke to. He said, 'You have to take it, 100 per cent', because that's the man he is. I've the utmost respect for him."
Although contending with the issues that plagued Manchester United last season would have represented a monumental challenge, Carrick has underlined his coaching credentials over the past few months.
And while his former club preferred to look elsewhere, others will come calling if he maintains his momentum on Teeside over the coming months. It feels like Carrick is destined to coach in the Premier League again sooner rather than later - not that he is focusing on anything other than the job at hand right now.
"I'm just happy doing what I'm doing. I'm genuinely not chasing anything," he added last month. "I'm just trying to do the best I can, enjoying the challenge and trying to give back to a club that’s shown a lot of faith in me to give me this chance."
