Manchester United has officially confirmed Michael Carrick as its permanent head coach, signing him to a two-year contract. The 44-year-old stepped into an interim role following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim in January and has since delivered an impressive run of form, successfully securing Champions League qualification for the club. Under Carrick's leadership, United has also achieved a guaranteed third-place finish in the Premier League, solidified by a thrilling victory against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Carrick's interim tenure has been marked by significant success, with his team winning 11 out of 16 matches. His performance has earned him a place on a six-man shortlist for the prestigious Premier League's manager of the season award. Since his appointment on January 13, Manchester United has accumulated 36 points, a total unmatched by any other top-flight club in the same period.

The decision to appoint Carrick permanently was made after he was recommended to the club's ownership by director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family subsequently gave their approval for the appointment. Expressing his pride, Carrick stated, "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." He further praised his squad, adding, "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.”

Carrick took charge when the club was in considerable disarray, following poor results and tactical disagreements that led to a strained relationship between Ruben Amorim and club officials during his 14-month tenure. Carrick, who also had a brief three-game stint as temporary boss after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dismissal in 2021, has garnered praise for his work both on and off the pitch. While United's statement did not detail his coaching team, it is understood that talks regarding their contracts are in advanced stages, with no issues anticipated. The experience of former England number two, Steve Holland, is considered particularly vital to Carrick's success.

United conducted a thorough recruitment process, and despite some candidates, such as England boss Thomas Tuchel, ruling themselves out by extending existing contracts, the club privately asserts that Carrick was identified as the best choice after a "thorough and discreet process." A key factor in his selection was his dedicated attention to the club's academy teams, a notable contrast to Amorim, who reportedly watched only one youth match in person. Jason Wilcox had set an ambitious target for the players to qualify for the Champions League in the wake of Amorim's departure, a goal Carrick achieved with three games to spare. This accomplishment, alongside significant victories against formidable opponents like Manchester City, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Liverpool, heavily favored his permanent appointment.