Manchester United set to name Michael Carrick as permanent manager, final announcement expected soon

Michael Carrick is on the verge of signing a permanent deal with Manchester United after masterminding an incredible turnaround this year following his appointment as caretaker manager in January, securing the Red Devils' return to the Champions League after more than two years.

Carrick had entered his third stint as interim boss with United in January after the club's board decided to sack Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim, who left the 20-time champions at the sixth spot on the table a little over six months after a disastrous 15th-place finish at the end of the previous season.

The former United and England midfielder not only began his stint with four consecutive wins, he ensured the 20-time English top-flight champions secured their return to the UEFA Champions League with a thrilling home win over current title holders Liverpool earlier this month.

Man United negotiating a two-year permanent deal with Carrick

According to BBC, United currently is negotiating a two-year deal with Carrick for the 44-year-old to become their head coach on a permanent basis after their board came to a consensus that he is indeed the right man to lead them in the future. His contract is also expected to contain the option of extending it by a year.

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Carrick had claimed that a final decision on his future at United should be made "pretty soon" during a press conference on Friday. The club is likely to announce their decision before Sunday's home game against Nottingham Forest, the final game of the season at Old Trafford.

Carrick had first led his former club on an interim basis after United sacked veteran manager Jose Mourinho in December 2018. He remained in charge until Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, another ex-Man United star, was appointed on a permanent basis three months later.

He would return to the interim role a little under three years later, this time after Solskjaer was sacked from the role. Carrick, however, remained in charge for less than two weeks during this stint, handing the reigns over to Ralf Rangnick – who remained in charge for the remainder of the season.

Carrick's only stint as permanent manager was with Middlesbrough in the Championship, the second-tier competition. The highlights of his stint with 'The Boro' was winning the EFL Championship Manager of the Month award in March 2023 and guiding them to the semi-finals of the League Cup for the first time in two decades.

Middlesbrough, however, sacked him in June last year despite Carrick having two years left in his contract after they finished tenth in the second division.