Casemiro has recalled an impactful memory that he has with Manchester United first-team coach Jonathan Woodgate under interim boss Michael Carrick this season.
Jonathan Woodgate was a key appointment to the Manchester United coaching staff back in January after Michael Carrick made his stunning return to Old Trafford.
Red Devils legend Carrick had worked closely with the 46-year-old United first-team coach when he took his first steps into management with Middlesbrough.
Woodgate had also served as a first-team coach during Carrick’s reign at Middlesbrough before the United interim manager was axed from his role in 2025.
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Casemiro puts the spotlight on Jonathan Woodgate’s knowledge of Man Utd during his Rio Ferdinand talk
Jonathan Woodgate was added to Michael Carrick’s backroom staff at the Premier League club alongside the likes of Jonny Evans, Travis Binnion and Steve Holland.
Michael Carrick’s Manchester United coaching staff has been widely praised for their respective roles in the Red Devils’ turnaround in the second half of the campaign.
Casemiro, who will leave Old Trafford in the summer, sat down with pundit Rio Ferdinand and touched on the tail end of his playing spell at Man Utd.
The 34-year-old Brazilian defensive midfielder insisted that a standout detail about Woodgate was the fact that he “understands” the history of the Red Devils.
“Johnny, Jonathan, yeah, I know, I know, he plays in Madrid,” Casemiro said on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
“He’s a funny guy. He speaks Spanish. A good feeling with him. So, Charlie [Owen], your proper physique [he is the first-team lead physical performance coach].
“So, he’s [Woodgate] very good. He’s very intelligent. But for me, the best thing, he knows the club. He understands the club.”
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Casemiro recalls a key moment involving Jonathan Woodgate in Man Utd’s encounter against Leeds United
United encountered Leeds United last month and the 10-man Red Devils suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to their Premier League rivals at Old Trafford.
Woodgate played at Leeds United in his career and Casemiro revealed that the United first-team coach explained the significance of last month’s match to him.
“I remember we played against Leeds and your meeting is about the history of this game,” he said.
“The history of this game.”
United legend Rio Ferdinand then asked: “He’s talking about the history of the game?”
Responding to Ferdinand, Casemiro added: “Yeah, yeah, he’s talking. And I know, because the people who speak are me, but not everyone knows that Leeds is the best.
“Yeah, yeah [they are big rivals]. I remember them. Sorry about my English, but [do] you remember the flight? The Munich. And in this week, he speaks about this, ‘Hey, guys, and this week is very important for the club.’
“He knows what the club is. Yeah, it’s because you see the meeting, he knows where to be. He knows. It’s for me, it’s very important for this.”
Casemiro has two Premier League matches remaining in his Man Utd playing spell before the end of the 2025-26 campaign at Old Trafford.
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