Michael Carrick gets permanent Manchester United role

Michael Carrick’s Manchester United status appears to have moved from interim to permanent in reporting published in the past week, but the club had not posted a formal announcement visible in accessible official materials as of May 20. Manchester United’s staff page still said Carrick was appointed on January 13 as head coach of the men’s first team “until the end of the 2025/26 season,” and the club’s latest investor materials used the same language. (sports.yahoo.com 1) (sports.yahoo.com 2) Multiple outside reports, including syndicated coverage based on reporting by The Athletic, said United planned to make Carrick the permanent head coach after his run in charge since January. (manutd.com) Those reports said the club’s football leadership had backed Carrick after an improvement in results during the second half of the season. ### What is actually confirmed, and what is still only reported? Manchester United’s own website confirms one part clearly: Carrick was installed on January 13 as head coach until the end of the 2025/26 season. The same wording appeared on the club’s head-coach profile, staff page and second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings release. (manutd.com) As of May 20, the accessible official pages reviewed did not show a fresh club statement saying Carrick had signed a new permanent contract. The permanent appointment was instead described in media reports and social posts, not in an official announcement visible from the sources available here. (sports.yahoo.com) ### Where did the permanent-job reports come from? Yahoo Sports published a report four days ago saying Manchester United planned to hire Carrick as permanent coach. Another Yahoo item, citing reporting by David Ornstein of The Athletic, said an agreement had been reached for Carrick to become the club’s next permanent head coach. (manutd.com) The Athletic’s own report, surfaced in search results, said Carrick was the recommendation of United’s football executives for the permanent role. NBC Sports also wrote that United were expected to hold discussions with Carrick first, while noting other candidates had been considered. (sports.yahoo.com) ### What contract details have been reported? The most specific detail in circulation was the term. Yahoo’s report on the agreement said Carrick was set for a two-year contract with an additional option year. MSN’s pickup of the story likewise referred to talks over a two-year deal. (sports.yahoo.com) Posts on X and fan forums referenced in the source briefings pointed more generally to a multi-year arrangement, but did not establish a term on their own. The two-year-plus-option structure comes from published media reporting rather than from a club statement reviewed here. (nytimes.com) ### Why was Carrick in position to get the job? Premier League and club coverage during Carrick’s interim spell pointed to a rise in results after his January appointment. The Premier League said two months ago that Carrick had overseen five unbeaten matches and won his first four games in charge. (sports.yahoo.com) Manchester United’s own site also continued to feature Carrick in routine first-team duties this week, including press conference material and post-match reaction after the May 17 win over Nottingham Forest. That did not confirm a new contract, but it showed him operating as the club’s active first-team lead at the close of the season. (sports.yahoo.com) ### What should readers watch for next? The next concrete step is an official Manchester United announcement, if the reported agreement is completed and disclosed. Until that appears, the club’s formal position in accessible official materials remains that Carrick is head coach through the end of the 2025/26 season. (premierleague.com) Manchester United’s website and investor pages are the primary places to watch for confirmation of contract length, job title and any start date attached to a permanent appointment. (manutd.com) (manutd.com)