Michael Carrick signs two-year deal as Manchester United head coach after third-place finish

Manchester United confirmed Michael Carrick as their permanent head coach on Friday, handing the former midfielder a two-year contract that runs through to the summer of 2028.

Carrick took interim charge on 13 January after Rúben Amorim’s dismissal and oversaw a remarkable turnaround, guiding United to a third-place Premier League finish. Since his appointment, United have collected 36 points from 16 games — a record of 11 wins, three draws and two defeats that made them the strongest side in the division across that period. Only Manchester City, with 31 goals, outscored them during that run, and United’s defensive record improved sharply from the standards set under Amorim.

Carrick signed the contract in the presence of sporting director Jason Wilcox, who confirmed the appointment followed a “thorough and discreet” scouting process. The club released a photo of the pair shaking hands at the signing.

“From the moment that I arrived here 20 years ago, I felt the magic of Manchester United,” Carrick said in a statement. “Carrying the responsibility of leading our special football club fills me with immense pride. Throughout the past five months, this group of players have shown they can reach the standards of resilience, togetherness and determination that we demand here.”

The composition of Carrick’s backroom staff has not yet been formally announced. BBC Sport reports that former England assistant manager Steve Holland is considered a key figure in those plans, and that no significant obstacles are expected in securing contracts for Carrick’s existing coaching team.

Carrick’s managerial record before this appointment was modest by top-flight standards. His only previous Premier League experience came in a three-game caretaker spell at Old Trafford in late 2021. He then spent nearly three years managing Middlesbrough in the Championship between 2022 and 2025, but was unable to secure promotion during that time.

United’s season concludes with a trip to Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday, after which Carrick will turn his full attention to building a squad capable of sustaining a title challenge.