Michael Carrick has been confirmed as Manchester United’s permanent head coach until 2028 after steering the club back into the Champions League and delivering a guaranteed third-place finish on the final day of the league season.
The 44-year-old, who took over in January from Ruben Amorim when United were sixth and already out of both cup competitions, said he would now target the biggest honours again. His permanent appointment comes after Jason Wilcox recommended him, with the move signed off by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family after his candidacy was tested against other possible appointments.
Carrick’s rise was built on a sharp reset. In 16 games in all competitions as interim manager, he won 11 and drew three, a run that included consecutive victories over Manchester City and Arsenal, as well as wins against Aston Villa and Liverpool. United were adrift when he arrived, but by the end of the season they were back in Europe next season and had put themselves in position to finish third.
That outcome carries extra weight because Carrick is not a newcomer to Old Trafford. He played for United for 12 years until 2018 and had already filled in for three games in 2021 after working as a coach under Ole Gunnar Solskjær. He returned under pressure in January, just under a year after being sacked by Middlesbrough, and immediately made a case for staying longer.
In his reaction, Carrick said that from the moment he arrived at the club 20 years ago he felt the magic of Manchester United, and that carrying the responsibility of leading the team filled him with immense pride. He added that the players had shown resilience, togetherness and determination over the past five months, and said the club and its supporters deserved to be challenging for the biggest honours again.
Wilcox echoed that view, saying Carrick had earned the chance to continue leading the men’s team and that his approach matched the club’s values, traditions and history. He also said Carrick’s achievements in leading United back to the Champions League should not be understated, pointing to the strong bond he had forged with the players and the winning culture he had built at Carrington and in the dressing room.
The appointment also gives United continuity at a moment when the squad is expected to be strengthened considerably, including with a replacement for Casemiro. Back in Europe and facing a more congested schedule next season, Carrick will be judged on whether the calm he restored can turn into something harder to buy: a team that is once again built to win the biggest trophies.
