Northern Ireland legend Jonny Evans to remain at Manchester United after signing new contract

Evans, who won three Premier League titles and a Champions League crown amongst other honours during his United playing career, returned to Old Trafford in January.

The current coaching staff have helped transform United’s fortunes, securing their Champions League return for next season with a guaranteed third-placed Premier League finish ahead of Sunday’s final fixture against Brighton.

Carrick was rewarded for his impact by being named permanent United manager on Friday – and the English giants have now confirmed that his backroom team will also remain, including Evans.

Evans was appointed as head of loans and pathways by United following his retirement after last season, but departed the role in December.

After Ruben Amorim was sacked the following month, Evans took up his first senior coaching role, initially under interim manager Darren Fletcher before remaining as part of Carrick’s staff.

Carrick has highlighted Evans’ impact at various points throughout his reign so far – the former Leicester City defender has been working closely with United’s stars on set-pieces, an increasingly important aspect of top-flight football.

Evans joined United’s academy as a teenager after being scouted while playing for Greenisland and Carrick believes his Old Trafford education can help the club’s current squad.

“Jonny, obviously he's someone who's close to me and everything he stands for, I respect and I appreciate,” said Carrick. “He's got unbelievable knowledge.

"He's come through the whole thing. He's in this football club and he gets it.

"He understands the day to day, and he's got a massive amount of experience to then pass on to the players as well.

“I think there's a real balance of personalities, of characters, of knowledge and experience. And I'm really, really happy with what we're going into because it's a big job, a big role.”

Evans’ initial appointment was met by criticism from United legend Roy Keane, who blasted “what has he done to be a coach of Man United’s first team?”.

"Jonny Evans has no coaching experience,” said Keane on Sky Sports. “It would be different if we were sitting here going ‘what has Jonny done?’.

"I like Jonny, he’s solid, I’ve signed him twice, this is not an issue with Jonny, it’s more an issue with the club and decision-making who they are bringing in.

"Jonny Evans left Man United about five or six weeks ago. He left as a player during the summer and they gave him a job as loans manager.

"He leaves that a month or two ago, he had enough of it. He wasn’t there for 10 years doing it, a few months. United are letting hundreds of staff go every week, but Jonny walks away from that job.

"He gets a call a week later from Darren Fletcher. My issue with Jonny is he has no coaching experience...it’s not like he worked in the academy for a few years.

"Jonny gets a call from Man United having worked as a loans manager saying ‘do you want to come back?’. I bet Jonny is thinking ‘what as the kit manager or working with the U12s’. No, he’s working with the first-team.

"It’s a great opportunity for him. The two games don’t go well and you think ‘that’s probably the end of that’, but no, another manager comes in and wants him to stay on as well.”