The former Manchester United midfielder who had been serving as interim manager has now been officially confirmed as the club’s permanent head coach.

Michael Carrick has been formally appointed as Manchester United’s new boss on a permanent contract.

The ex-midfielder took charge of Ruben Amorim’s struggling team in January and has since revitalised United, guiding them to an impressive third-place finish in this season’s Premier League campaign.

Manchester United’s season will wrap up with their away fixture against Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon. Ahead of that match, the club has confirmed earlier reports that Carrick would be offered the managerial position on a long-term basis.

United made the announcement on Friday afternoon, revealing that Carrick has signed a two-year contract extending through to the summer of 2028.

During the announcement, Carrick was photographed signing the official documents and shaking hands with sporting director Jason Wilcox, who played a key role in selecting Carrick after what was described as a ‘thorough and discreet’ evaluation process.

Speaking after the confirmation, Carrick said: “From the moment I first arrived here 20 years ago, I felt the magic of Manchester United. Carrying the responsibility of leading this special football club fills me with immense pride.”

He added, “Over the past five months, this group of players has demonstrated the resilience, unity, and determination that we expect at this club.”

As of now, details regarding Carrick’s backroom staff have not been finalised. However, according to BBC Sport, former England assistant coach Steve Holland is viewed as an important part of the setup, and no complications are anticipated in finalising contracts for Carrick’s current coaching team.

Since Carrick’s appointment on January 13, United have been the Premier League’s most consistent performers, collecting 36 points from 16 matches, which includes 11 victories, three draws, and only two defeats.

Only Manchester City, with 31 goals, have managed a higher goal tally during that period, while United’s defensive stability has shown a remarkable improvement compared to the form under Amorim.

Before this role, Carrick’s only top-flight managerial experience came during his brief caretaker tenure at Old Trafford in late 2021, which lasted three matches. He subsequently managed Middlesbrough in the Championship from 2022 to 2025, where he came close but ultimately fell short of achieving promotion.