MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United appointed Michael Carrick as permanent head coach on Friday, granting him a two-year contract after an impressive interim period.
Carrick guided United to a third-place finish in the Premier League this season—a remarkable recovery from their 15th-place finish last term, which marked a record low in the modern era. During his interim spell, he recorded 11 wins from 16 matches with just two losses.
"Michael has thoroughly earned the opportunity to continue leading our men's team," said United director of football Jason Wilcox, who led the search for the club's next coach. "In the time he has been doing the role, we have seen positive results on the pitch, but more than that, an approach which aligns with the club's values, traditions and history."
Carrick becomes the seventh permanent manager since the retirement of Alex Ferguson in 2013. Despite uncertainty over whether he represented the long-term solution after more than a decade of decline, his impact made it impossible for the club's hierarchy to overlook him.
"Throughout the past five months we've shown what our club represents—resilience, togetherness and a determination to succeed," Carrick said. "Now it's about moving forward again with ambition and purpose. This club and our supporters deserve to be challenging for the biggest honors and we're never going to stop."
As a multiple title winner with United as a player, Carrick enjoyed strong support from fans and club icons who called for him to be given the job permanently. He also inspired an upturn in form from key players like Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko.
However, he remains a novice coach at the top level. His only previous full-time managerial experience came at second-tier Middlesbrough from 2022-25.
"Michael's achievements in leading the club back to the Champions League should not be understated," Wilcox said. "He has forged a strong bond with the players and can be proud of the winning culture at Carrington and in the dressing room, which we are continuing to build."
Carrick was part of one of Ferguson's greatest teams, which won a Premier League and Champions League double in 2008. In all, he won 12 major trophies in 12 years at United, including five league titles. He was in United's last title-winning team in Ferguson's final season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was an iconic player—part of the club's DNA—and had the affection of the fans but ultimately came up short in his attempt to restore United to glory.
"From the moment that I arrived here 20 years ago, I felt the magic of Manchester United," Carrick said. "Carrying the responsibility of leading our special football club fills me with immense pride."