Manchester United confirm Michael Carrick has signed two-year deal to stay on as head coach at Old Trafford

Manchester United have announced Michael Carrick will stay on as their head coach on a two-year contract.

The former United midfielder, who was appointed in January until the end of the season following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim, has been rewarded with the full-time job after securing a return to the Champions League.

Carrick took over with United seventh in the Premier League but Sunday's 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest clinched third spot with a game to spare.

United have won 11 of Carrick's 16 games in charge, drawing three and losing two, in a run that started with a four-game winning streak and resounding triumphs over Manchester City and Arsenal.

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United return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2023/24 season after an impressive run under Carrick, which led to him being nominated for Premier League Manager of the Season.

Since Carrick took over, United are top of the Premier League form table with 36 points from a possible 48.

After finishing his playing career at Old Trafford, where he enjoyed a decorated spell winning five Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup among other honours, Carrick joined the coaching staff initially alongside Jose Mourinho in 2018.

Following Mourinho's sacking, Carrick remained alongside Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before the Norwegian left the club in 2021. Carrick then took up his first managerial role at Middlesbrough in 2022, leading the club to the play-offs in his first season and a Carabao Cup semi-final in 2024. He was sacked by Boro in June 2025.

Sky Sports News understands the club are still finalising paperwork for the current first-team coaching staff to continue in their roles at the club - including Steve Holland and Jonathan Woodgate.

Carrick earns long-term job after 'thorough and discreet' process

Sky Sports News' Dan Khan:

When United appointed Carrick in January, although never guaranteed to continue on as head coach - he was always going to be considered a candidate for the job.

United carried out what has been described as a 'thorough and discreet' process - led by Director of Football Jason Wilcox, as they decided who would be their head coach next season and ultimately decided Carrick was the best candidate against the current market.

Wilcox recommended Carrick as the most suitable candidate to CEO Omar Berrada before then going to both sets of the club owners, all of whom are understood to be aligned on Carrick's appointment.

The club's hierarchy have been impressed by improvements in results, performances but also a positive change in culture at Carrington and believe the first-team staff alongside Carrick deserve the opportunity to carry on after their last six months at United.

Neville: Carrick has stabilised Man Utd - but hard work starts now

Sky Sports pundit and former Man Utd captain Gary Neville has praised the work Carrick has done as United boss so far, addressing issues on and off the pitch following what he called a "turbulent couple of years".

"From the very first minute, the games against Manchester City and Arsenal, those first two games were absolutely astounding, the turnaround," said Neville. "I just don't know how it went from being so low in that period before Michael came in to the levels that they got to in those two matches.

"Since then, they've maybe not reached the highs of those two games but that would have been difficult anyway, but just being very consistent, getting over the line in games where they haven't played well, been a lot more together, a lot more energy.

"Michael Carrick stabilised the club, on and off the pitch. On the pitch with the players, they're obviously a lot more comfortable in the system and the way in which they're being coached. But off the pitch as well, the fans are a lot happier. That comes with results but also they know Michael, they trust him, they respect him, and in the staff of the club as well.

"It's been a turbulent couple of years and it's probably the best period the club's been in since Michael came in and he deserves a lot of credit for that."

However, Neville says Carrick will now need backing in the summer transfer window to strengthen areas of weakness in the squad and add depth for what will be a more demanding campaign, with Champions League football back on the schedule.

"He's a realist. He's seen what excellent looks like at this club and he's seen in his last few months that the team have done well for him but he'll realise that the hard work and challenge really does start now.

"In fact, it probably started a couple of weeks ago. He was talking a couple of weeks ago in the press conferences about contributing towards the recruitment plans for next season but the minute that he gets the job is when it really does start for Michael.

"He's done a fantastic job as almost like a caretaker, interim. But now permanent manager comes with a different level of pressure, different level of expectation.

"Manchester United need a lot of players, let's be really clear. I don't think Michael will be fooled by that. I don't think any United fan will be fooled by that. They'll realise there's a nucleus of probably five or six that you can build around but beyond that there needs to be some additions that take the quality up in the stability and the resilience of the squad.

"If you get two or three injuries in different positions, it falls apart quite quickly. So Manchester United, with the Champions League next season, and all those games midweek, are going to need to really support Michael in the summer. I'm sure that's what their aim is."

Carragher: Carrick deserves job - but won't deliver big trophies

Fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher is unconvinced Carrick will be able to bring the big trophies back to Old Trafford but believes his appointment is deserved, seeing him as a stepping stone manager for United.

"I don't see the thinking that Michael Carrick is the man to get Manchester United back to winning the Champions League or Premier League. I do feel he should get the job," Carragher said.

"If you think where they have been over the last two or three years and what they achieved, they could be laughed at. They finished 15th last season.

"What he's done is calm everything down. Manchester United should always be in the Champions League positions due to how big the club is. That's what he's done. He's done what he should do. I think they could do with another year of that.

"I don't think this summer is going to make them ready to challenge. They need another year of this and the risk of changing someone who is not going to cause trouble and not going to fall out with players... is steady enough for Manchester United? I think for 12 months it is."

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Manchester United confirm Michael Carrick has signed two-year deal to stay on as head coach at Old Trafford