Michael Carrick confirmed as new permanent Manchester United manager – and this is different to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Michael Carrick has been appointed the new permanent manager of Manchester United.

The former Red Devils midfielder and multiple trophy winner has signed a two-year deal with the option of an extra one at Old Trafford.

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Carrick came in as interim manager at Manchester United following Ruben Amorim‘s departure, getting the nod over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The 44-year-old was appointed in January and has produced an excellent second half of the season.

Man United will be back in the Champions League next year and have sealed a third-place finish.

In 16 Premier League games, the Red Devils have won 11 and only drawn two.

Steve Holland has also signed a permanent contract to remain as assistant manager.

Carrick’s view

In a statement on the club’s website, Carrick said: “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.

“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.

“Now it’s time to move forward together again, with ambition and a clear sense of purpose. Manchester United and our incredible supporters deserve to be challenging for the biggest honours again.”

The club’s director of football Jason Wilcox added: “Michael has thoroughly earned the opportunity to continue leading our men’s team. In the time he has been doing the role, we have seen positive results on the pitch, but more than that, an approach which aligns with the club’s values, traditions and history.

“Michael’s achievements in leading the club back to the Champions League should not be understated. He has forged a strong bond with the players and can be proud of the winning culture at Carrington and in the dressing room, which we are continuing to build.”

The club now round off the season against Brighton & Hove Albion, but planning for the new year is underway, with Carrick in charge.

What does the future hold?

The vast majority of Man United fans are likely to be very happy.

But the club have been criticised for potentially failing to learn from a previous mistake – having appointed Solskjaer after a similarly impressive interim spell.

But talkSPORT’s Chief Football Correspondent, Alex Crook, isn’t having that.

Speaking on talkSPORT’s Inside Devils show, he said: “The matchday fans are behind this appointment. You saw them all stay on Sunday – they all wanted to hear what Michael Carrick had to say.

“So, you do have to differentiate between the noise on social media and the actual fans, who go week in, week out.

“But the one big stick to beat him with seems to be the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer situation, and without getting all Rafa Benitez, I am going to lay down some facts.

“Solskjaer, while I was advocating for his removal by the end of his tenure because it become untenable and turned toxic, he was a pretty good manager.

“He did bring the feel-good factor to Old Trafford. He did finish second. He did get to within a penalty of winning the Europa League final.

“He is the longest-serving Manchester United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson left, so he can’t have been doing that bad.

“He outlasted David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Erik ten Hag.

“So, to label Carrick as the new Ole, I think is a really lazy narrative.

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“But Carrick has beaten everybody – Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa.

“I do not know what more he could have done to convince those doubters that he should be the Manchester United manager.

“And to say we should be going for the best in class, we’ve done that.

“It turned sour for Van Gaal and Mourinho, so why not put our faith in someone who saw it all as a player, and he’s conducted himself brilliantly.

“The players love him, the Old Trafford crowd love him – it’s a no-brainer for me.

“I feel some people complaining are just making noise for the sake of it.”