Michael Carrick has agreed a two-year contract to remain Manchester United’s permanent manager.
His contract also includes an option year, meaning he could remain in charge at Old Trafford until at least 2029.
Final legal details are currently being sorted out and the club expects to be announced within the next 24 to 48 hours.
On Sunday, United hosts Nottingham Forest, who will broadcast their final home game of the season live on Sky Sports, where it is tradition for the permanent head coach to address the supporters at full time.
Director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berada believe Carrick is the right man to continue to lead United after an impressive run that saw them win the Champions League in 15 games and wins against Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.
The former United midfielder had been the front-runner for the role for some time, with his bosses impressed not only by his popularity within the squad, his dealings with the media and his essential understanding of the tradition and size of the football club, but also importantly by the results he achieved on the pitch.
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Carrick has won 10 and drawn three in his 15 games in charge, guaranteeing a spot in next season’s Champions League and potentially boosting his revenue by £100m.
Carrick has done everything asked of him and more, but it was always difficult to see how United could hand the job to someone else in those circumstances.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Carrick suggested speculation about his long-term future at Old Trafford would soon end.
“My future will be decided soon,” Carrick told the media.
“Nothing has changed because we knew it was going to be towards the end of the season, if not the end of the season. There’s not much of a change in that. Obviously anything beyond that is pretty close anyway.”
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Michael Carrick says he will address fans at final home game
“I think speeches are important in any situation,” he said of United’s head coach’s tradition of addressing fans after the final home game of the season.
“This is important because of our supporters and we are grateful to them and we are grateful to them for the season and their support and certainly for the last four months.”
“Regardless of that (my future), I felt like the experience we had together and that connection and the players felt that too. That’s important.”
“I am confident that Carrick is the right person for Man U’s hierarchy.”
Dan Khan of Sky Sports News in Carrington:
“You have to look at what Carrick has done in the 15 games he has been in charge. We won 10 games, including impressive wins against Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, but he has also reinvigorated many of this team. For example, Koby Mainu was nominated for the Young Player of the Year award on Thursday.”
“I know Carrick has absolute buy-in from the squad and I think we saw that throughout his time as manager when the team went down a few times, including the defeat against Leeds a month ago.
“Then they came back to win the game at Stamford Bridge and I think that was a huge deciding factor.”
Neville: Carrick faces even greater challenges.
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Highlights of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool
Gary Neville spoke about Carrick’s future after the 3-2 win over Liverpool:
“Something has come to light that should give Manchester United fans peace of mind that they are in safe hands.
“Manchester United need stability. We haven’t had stability in the last few years and he will bring stability in the sense that everyone has faith in him.
“The fans like him, the players obviously like him, and the owners will trust him too. Next year he will play 55-60 games in the Champions League, but he will definitely not play in the first round of the cup competitions. Then everything will require a different level of management and monitoring. It is much more difficult. Does he have the experience? Does he have the work-rate to rely on?”
“Some people say, ‘Why don’t we give him a one-year deal and then give him another year to stabilize things?’ I don’t think you can argue with that.
“But if we could get a world-class manager who won titles, Manchester United would probably pursue that avenue because the last five managers haven’t had any experience at a super club. Michael would be one of those managers who doesn’t get enough of that.”
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Players have publicly supported Carrick’s job offer.
A number of Manchester United players have publicly supported Carrick’s permanent appointment.
Amad Diallo said earlier this month that everyone in the dressing room would be happy to see Carrick remain as head coach next season.
“Honestly, it’s not the players who will decide who stays here next season, but what I can say is that everyone is happy to have him as manager,” the United winger told Sky Sports. “Everyone is with him.
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Amad Diallo says players want Carrick to stay at Manchester United
“He’s a manager who builds good relationships with all the players, so we’re really happy to have him as manager and we’d be happy to have him as manager again next season.”
The Ivory Coast player added: “Even when you are in a difficult situation, he is there to talk to you and help you.”
“Probably the biggest change is that the team has become more influential. We are really together, just like in the dressing room.
“Every mistake doesn’t matter. Your mistake is my mistake. So we’re a team that doesn’t care if you make a mistake and can do it again. So we want to move forward and win as a team.”
“It’s changed the team, and I think a lot of that is due to Michael Carrick and his staff. And let’s not forget Trav (coach Travis Binion) and the rest of the staff.”
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Casemiro appeared on the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel to support Michael Carrick as Manchester United manager.
“They’re really important to the team and they bring that kind of energy to the team, which is very important.”
Casemiro, who is leaving the club along with Matheus Cunha, also supports Carrick’s appointment.
“Carrick has earned the chance to manage Manchester United.”
Negotiations between Carrick and Manchester United have progressed in recent days
Rob Dorsett of Sky Sports News:
Michael Carrick has been the frontrunner for the job for some time.
They have been hugely impressed by his work but, crucially, it is the results on the pitch that have convinced the Old Trafford bosses to start talks.
He has achieved everything asked of him and more in his short time in the United dugout. But I don’t think Carrick deserves the job, he’s earned it with his previous work.
Manchester United are talking to representatives of other candidates and expect the names to be Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique, but these candidates have been pushed back a bit.
With Tuchel signing a new contract with England, Ancelotti signing the same deal with Brazil and Luis Enrique expected to remain at PSG, United’s options have narrowed at a time when Carrick was adamantly putting his hand up for the job and showing he was the right man for the job.
Your opinion: Contrasting opinions about Carrick…
Carrick has turned Manchester United’s fortunes around this season
Dale: Why not give it to Carrick?The players are all behind the manager. Bringing other people will cause chaos in the locker room.
Stefan L: Big mistake. Other than the first two games, the soccer was terrible. I’ll bet money to get into the bottom half by Christmas.
Sam D: Good decision. United need to continue to build on what Carrick has done, but bringing in another player could undermine that. Return him to the summer window.
Ryan: Carrick did great, but there’s no reason he should get the job when there are better candidates. The performance at Sunderland should have set off alarm bells. And with his dismissal, they will be looking for yet another interim manager by mid-January.
Keith p: I love Carrick. He has made us all proud, but is he really ready to play in the Champions League? Why not give it his all for Luis Enrique?
Ant: It may not be an exciting choice, but it’s the right one. Pundits must have expected United to finish eighth or lower this season. Carrick did a great job to finish in the top four.
JoshOpray: His management of men is similar to Fergie. The whole dressing room loves him and will play for him no matter what. That’s a big factor in football that can’t be ignored. Why not give him a chance!
Bob L: I hope it’s not a repeat of what happened with Ole Gunnar Solskjær. After a good season as interim manager, he struggled the next season as permanent manager and was eventually fired.
