Michael Carrick is enjoying plenty of success at Middlesbrough - but that should come as no surprise after his impact on Erik ten Hag's Manchester United.
Carrick's current side took another step towards the Premier League on Saturday afternoon by beating Reading 5-0 at the Riverside. Middlesbrough are now just four points behind Sheffield United in second, although the Blades do have a game in hand.
Carrick has turned his team's fortunes around, as they were just a point above the Championship relegation zone when he took over last October. It is not the first time the former England international has proven himself as a coach... just ask Man Utd's Fred.
Carrick helped Fred significantly during his time on the coaching staff at Old Trafford. The Brazilian midfielder has previously lauded Carrick for the impact he's had on his career.
Fred has often struggled during his United career, especially when he first arrived in England from Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer of 2018. For instance, he was heavily criticised after a goalless draw against AZ Alkmaar in October 2019.
Michael Owen described him as "just a moderate player" before Owen Hargreaves argued, "You cannot afford to give it away as much as he did tonight... I think there’s a really good player in there, I don’t know why we’re seeing him play like this."
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Yet Fred's performances soon improved thanks to Carrick, who was also a central midfielder during his glittering playing career. "He has helped me a lot in this process of adaptation and transition," Fred told Brazilian outlet Trivela in April 2020.
"He's a guy who was an idol at the club and was a great player in the same position that I play. On a daily basis, he helps me a lot, always talking to me. After training we always do a little work to complement it, sometimes finishing, sometimes passing.
"[Carrick is] a guy who understands the game, who lived it, and it's impossible for there to be anyone better than him to help me. He knows about the difficulties, the shortcuts, and he tries to show me everything there is in training and in games.
"He's a guy who has been of huge importance for me at United and I'm very grateful to him."
Although Fred has faced his fair share of criticism since that interview and when Carrick left Old Trafford at the end of 2021, current United boss Ten Hag is reaping the rewards of the ex-midfielder's work. Fred is arguably enjoying his best season in England.
Often playing alongside his compatriot Casemiro, Fred has scored six goals in all competitions. The 29-year-old played a handy role from the bench earlier in the campaign and is currently enjoying a starting role following Christian Eriksen's injury in January.
Even Roy Keane, a vocal critic of Fred, has changed his tune. The former United skipper lauded Fred's "lovely little finish" after Ten Hag's side defeated Reading in January. Make no doubt about it, turning Keane from a doubter into a believer is an almighty task.
Would Fred have become one of United's most important stars if Carrick was not around when he first arrived in England? Maybe, maybe not. Yet Carrick was, and Ten Hag can be thankful of that.
