By Francis Onyach - Reporter
Kenya, 15 May 2026 - Manchester United F.C. are set to officially confirm Michael Carrick as the club’s permanent manager after co-owner Jim Ratcliffe approved the decision following the team’s dramatic resurgence under the former midfielder.
After months of uncertainty surrounding the managerial position at Old Trafford, multiple major football outlets now report that Carrick has accepted Manchester United’s proposal to remain in charge beyond the end of the season, with final contract details currently being completed. The agreement is expected to run either until June 2028 with an option for an additional year, or directly until 2029.
The decision marks one of the biggest turning points in Manchester United’s post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
When Carrick returned to the club in January following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim, the mood around Old Trafford was tense and uncertain. United were struggling for consistency, drifting away from the Champions League places, and once again facing questions about the direction of the project under INEOS ownership.
Few expected Carrick to emerge as the long-term solution.
Although highly respected at the club because of his legendary playing career, Carrick arrived with limited senior managerial experience outside his time at Middlesbrough F.C.. Initially viewed as a temporary stabilizing figure, the 44-year-old instead transformed United’s season within weeks.
Under Carrick, Manchester United have collected 33 points from 15 Premier League matches, the best record in the division during that period according to multiple reports. United have recorded 10 wins, three draws, and only two defeats since his appointment, climbing back into the UEFA Champions League places and re-establishing momentum around the club.
Several major victories played a huge role in convincing the hierarchy.
Carrick’s reign began with a statement 2–0 derby victory against Manchester City F.C. before United followed it with an impressive win away at Arsenal F.C.. Since then, United have also beaten Liverpool F.C., Chelsea F.C., and Tottenham Hotspur F.C. during a remarkable turnaround.
The victory over Liverpool earlier this week proved especially decisive.
United’s thrilling 3–2 win over their fiercest rivals officially secured Champions League qualification and appears to have removed any remaining doubt inside the club hierarchy regarding Carrick’s future.
According to reports from Goal, The Guardian, and The Times, chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox strongly backed Carrick during meetings with Ratcliffe and other senior executives.
Ratcliffe himself is believed to have been impressed not only by results, but also by Carrick’s calm leadership style, communication skills, and ability to reconnect the squad with supporters after a chaotic period earlier in the season.
One major factor behind the decision has been the improvement of several key players.
Bruno Fernandes has produced arguably the best football of his Manchester United career under Carrick, registering 19 Premier League assists this season and recently winning the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award. Young stars like Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo have also flourished in recent months.
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The dressing room reportedly played an important role in the process as well.
Several senior players are understood to have privately expressed support for Carrick remaining in charge permanently, while assistant coach Steve Holland is also expected to continue as part of the new setup.
For many supporters, the appointment carries emotional significance beyond the results.
Carrick spent 12 years at Manchester United as a player, winning five Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League under Alex Ferguson. Throughout his playing career, he was viewed as one of the club’s most intelligent and composed figures, qualities many fans now see reflected in his coaching approach.
There is also a growing sense that United may finally be moving away from the cycle of constant managerial upheaval that has defined much of the post-Ferguson era.
Since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, United have changed managers repeatedly, appointing and dismissing figures including David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Erik ten Hag, and Amorim. Carrick’s appointment now represents another attempt to restore long-term stability and identity at the club.
Despite the excitement surrounding the decision, questions will still remain.
Carrick’s sample size as manager remains relatively small, and critics point to his limited experience compared to elite European coaches linked with the role in recent months, including Andoni Iraola and Xavi Hernández.
But for now, Manchester United’s leadership appear convinced they have found the right figure to lead the next phase of the rebuild.
The interim experiment has become a long-term project.
The former midfielder is now becoming the face of a new era.
And at Old Trafford, Michael Carrick is officially at the wheel.