Michael Carrick has been tipped to become the first Manchester United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson to enjoy genuine longevity at Old Trafford, with former defender Mikael Silvestre backing the Red Devils boss to establish himself if he continues to deliver results.
Carrick earned the permanent role after an impressive spell as interim manager and now faces the challenge of restoring Manchester United to the top of English football.
No Manchester United manager has remained in charge for more than two full seasons since Ferguson retired in 2013 after winning his 13th Premier League title.
A succession of high-profile coaches—including David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim—have all failed to combine silverware with sustained success.
Amorim’s reign came to an end midway through the 2025-26 campaign before Darren Fletcher briefly took caretaker charge, with Carrick later stepping in as interim manager.
The former United midfielder impressed during his 17-game spell, winning 12 matches and earning a two-year contract as the club’s permanent head coach.
Now preparing for a return to Champions League football, Carrick is tasked with ending the club’s long wait for another Premier League title.
Former Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre believes Carrick has the qualities required to remain at Old Trafford longer than any of his predecessors since Ferguson.
Speaking to GOAL in association with Betinia, Silvestre said:
“Like he said in an interview when he took over, he has to prove himself to the players, to the board that he can be there for longer.
“He can only achieve that if he qualifies always for the Champions League, plays good football and tries to improve the team to win the league.
“I think he will have time and I think he can do it.”
Although Carrick is managing one of Europe’s biggest clubs for the first time, Silvestre believes his football knowledge and understanding of Manchester United give him a strong foundation.
“He’s never managed a top club before, but he has so much knowledge about what United is about, about the game,” Silvestre continued.
“He’s been coaching, he’s not 38 years old, he’s going towards his 50s, he’s not a young lad, so he knows himself.”
However, Silvestre stressed that modern management extends far beyond the head coach alone.
“I hope that his backroom staff is good enough, because it’s not a one-man job anymore.
“You have to manage 25 players with big egos, with big wages. The sporting director has a big role to play as well as the CEO.
“It’s not like before, we can’t compare. We can’t compare Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and David Dein. Now it’s a different ball game, totally different.”
Former assistant manager Rene Meulensteen also believes Manchester United have the potential to challenge for the title under Carrick if the club recruits wisely this summer.
Reflecting on Carrick’s impact, Meulensteen told GOAL:
“In my opinion, I think they could if they buy the right players, keep hold of the right ones and buy the right players to strengthen them.
“Just on the basis of the last 14 or 15 games that Michael Carrick has been in charge, you look at the form, you look at the performances in the Premier League, they can beat anyone.
“They’ve proven that. They’ve proven to be able to beat the ones that are challenging for the title now.”
Carrick enters the 2026-27 season under significant pressure but with growing optimism surrounding the direction of the club.
A successful return to the Champions League and a genuine Premier League title challenge would not only validate the club’s decision to appoint him permanently but could also see him achieve something no Manchester United manager has managed since Ferguson’s retirement—lasting beyond two full seasons at Old Trafford.
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