Manchester United announced, Friday, that Michael Carrick will continue as the club’s permanent head coach, lifting the interim tag with a new two-year deal.
The announcement follows reports last week ahead of Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest that the two parties were in agreement to make his appointment permanent and final contract details were being hashed out. Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic reported that Carrick was quietly vetted against other candidates before receiving an internal
recommendation from chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox to minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with the final decision up to Ratcliffe to offer the permanent contract.
Carrick’s official appointment follows an exceptional interim head coaching spell from the former United midfielder. Since taking over in January, Carrick coached the Reds to their first UEFA Champions League qualification and first top-3 finish in two years. The Reds also owned the Premier League in points in the second half of the season, outscoring their opponents 30-18 and winning 11 of 16 matches with wins over Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City (also Tottenham if you still count them as a top six side), while only amassing two losses. Carrick is currently nominated for Premier League Manager of the Season.
He is the 24th permanent first team leader in the club’s modern history. Including his caretaker spell in 2021, Carrick is the third man to lead the Reds multiple times after Walter Crickmer (1931-32, 1937-45) and Sir Matt Busby (1945-1969, 1970-71). He is also the fourth former player under Sir Alex Ferguson to lead the team after Ryan Giggs’ caretaker spell in 2014, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s run from 2018-21, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s caretaker spell in 2024, and Darren Fletcher’s interim spell in 2026.
Under Carrick, Bruno Fernandes pieced together one of his greatest collection of performances for United, breaking the club’s all-time assist record and tying the league’s all-time assist record of 20 — virtually locking up the Premier League Playmaker of the Season award in the process. He also earned a nomination for PL Player of the Season, won the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year, and earned a club record fifth Manchester United Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s four.
Kobbie Mainoo also enjoyed a resurgence with Carrick at the helm, starting 14 matches, scoring the game winner against Liverpool in the same week he signed a new contract with United, and earning a nomination for Premier League Young Player of the Season.
United finish their 2026-27 campaign at Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday, May 24.
