Manchester United are set to open formal talks with Michael Carrick about becoming the club's permanent head coach, following an impressive run that has seen him guide the Red Devils back to the Champions League with three games to spare.
Since taking charge in January, the 44-year-old has won 10 of his 15 matches in the dugout, suffering just two defeats. That kind of form is hard to ignore, and it's no surprise that club executives are expected to recommend Carrick for the role on a full-time basis.
Carrick has been the clear frontrunner for some time now, and those discussions are set to take place ahead of United's final Premier League fixture against Brighton on May 24, according to the Manchester Evening News. The club's hierarchy has been impressed not just by the results, but by the way Carrick has carried himself since his return—and crucially, he has earned the backing of the locker room to continue beyond the summer.
His record speaks volumes. Under Carrick, United have taken 33 points in the Premier League—more than any other top-flight club during that same period. He has outmaneuvered some of the game's biggest names, including Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery, and Arne Slot, with statement wins over Manchester City, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
Carrick hasn't done it alone. He's been backed by a coaching staff that includes Steve Holland as assistant manager, Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans, and Travis Binnion as first-team coaches. The club sees this group as a well-balanced mix of abilities and personalities, and those who have watched them work at Carrington have noted a strong chemistry that's translating into results on the pitch.
Negotiations will also cover arrangements for Carrick's support staff to remain in place—a sign that United are looking to build on the momentum rather than start from scratch.
For Carrick, it's a dream scenario. "I love doing what I'm doing," he said recently. "It's a great position for me to be in." And with Champions League football secured and a permanent deal on the horizon, it's a position that looks set to become his for the long haul.