Manchester United officially named Michael Carrick permanent head coach on May 22, 2026, signing him to a contract lasting until 2028 [1, 2, 3, 4]. Carrick, 44, had served as interim manager since January 13, 2026, when he replaced Ruben Amorim following the latter's dismissal [5, 2, 3, 6, 4].
In his interim spell, Carrick led the club to 11 wins in 16 matches, securing Champions League qualification with a guaranteed third-place finish in the Premier League[s1-s11]. The team has accumulated 68 Premier League points with one game left in the season, ensuring a top-three spot [7, 1, 8, 9, 10, 4]. Previous to Carrick's appointment, Manchester United had finished 15th in the prior season, highlighting the turnaround since he took charge [2, 11, 6].
Carrick is a club legend who played 464 games for Manchester United, winning five Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League [7, 1, 8, 9, 10, 4]. He was caretaker manager briefly in 2021 after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal[s1-s3,s6-s8,s11]. His previous managerial experience includes a mixed spell at Middlesbrough, where he initially improved the team but was later dismissed after failing to secure promotion[s2,s3,s6-s8,s11].
Carrick emphasized pride in leading the club and called for ambition, purpose, resilience, and togetherness. He said: “From the moment that I arrived here 20 years ago, I felt the magic of Manchester United. Carrying the responsibility of leading our special football club fills me with immense pride... Now it's time to move forward together again, with ambition and a clear sense of purpose.” [5]
Director of football Jason Wilcox praised Carrick’s appointment, noting his alignment with club values and his role in restoring a winning culture. Wilcox said Carrick “has thoroughly earned the opportunity” and highlighted his impact on the players and team spirit [7, 1, 3, 8, 9, 10, 4]. Players including Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo have also commended Carrick for raising confidence and morale. Maguire said the team’s six points against Arsenal and Manchester City after Carrick took charge boosted belief, while Mainoo described the desire to fight for Carrick on the pitch [2, 11, 6].
Negotiations over Carrick’s backroom staff have delayed some announcements, but key assistants like Steve Holland and Jonathan Woodgate are expected to remain [12]. Meanwhile, midfielder Casemiro is set to leave the club in summer 2026, having recently played his final home game [5, 12].
Manchester United will play their final Premier League match of the season away at Brighton & Hove Albion on May 24, 2026 [7, 1, 8, 9, 4, 12].
