Carlton have confirmed Mick Malthouse as their new coach for the next three years at a media conference on Tuesday morning.

At a packed press conference Carlton president Stephen Kernahan officially unveiled the new coach, who has spent a year out of the game since finishing up with Magpies following last year's Grand Final loss to Geelong.

Malthouse coached West Coast to two premierships in 1992 and '94 before an 11-year stint at the Magpies yielded another flag and three runners-up.

He became linked to the Carlton midway through this season when the Blues were struggling for form and dropped out of the eight.

Former coach Brett Ratten, who was contracted until the end of the 2013 season, was sacked following the Blues' shock loss to Gold Coast in Round 22.