Manchester United have sacked head coach Michael Carrick following a dismal start to the season that leaves the club in the Premier League relegation zone.
The decision, confirmed by the club on Thursday, ends Carrick’s tenure after 16 matches in the permanent role. United currently sit 18th in the Premier League table, having secured only three wins across all competitions this season. Carrick departs having overseen the club’s worst-ever start to an English top-flight season in 40 years.
Manchester United part ways with Michael Carrick
“Manchester United can confirm that Michael Carrick has departed his role as men’s first-team head coach,” the club said in a statement. “After a disappointing start to the season, the club has come to the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions. Michael is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend.”
🚨💣 BREAKING: MANCHESTER UNITED HAVE SACKED MICHAEL CARRICK WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT. pic.twitter.com/KcgPEGjSoN
United intend to appoint a successor “as quickly as possible.” Sources have told ESPN that the club is close to an agreement with Mauricio Pochettino, who is currently managing the United States men’s national team. CEO Omar Berrada informed Carrick of the decision at the Carrington training ground on Thursday morning.
The Path to Dismissal
Carrick’s departure follows a period of increasing pressure at Old Trafford. The 45-year-old was appointed permanently in May 2026 on a two-year contract after a successful interim spell where he replaced Ruben Amorim in January 2026.
We can confirm Michael Carrick has departed his role as men’s first-team head coach.
During that initial period, he guided the team to a third-place finish and a return to the Champions League, winning 12 of 17 matches. However, the speed of the subsequent downturn has been startling, with United winning only one of their last 11 games.
Manchester United sack Michael Carrick as manager
The final straw for the hierarchy was a dramatic 4-4 draw against Aston Villa at Old Trafford, a result that left the club in the relegation zone.
Michael Carrick has departed his role as @ManUtd's first-team head coach, the club has confirmed. pic.twitter.com/yWnw8AjmsQ
Fans at the stadium voiced their frustrations during the match, turning a “hurricane of fury” toward those in the padded seats behind the dugout. Carrick’s exit marks the third time in as many seasons that United have fired a manager mid-campaign, following the departures of Erik ten Hag in October 2024 and Ruben Amorim in January 2026.
Pochettino’s Potential Arrival
Pochettino is the primary target to replace Carrick. Negotiations regarding his release from the U.S. Soccer Federation negotiations continue, with a buyout clause understood to be around $10 million (£7.5m). An additional $2m may be required to bring his coaching staff, including assistant Jesus Perez, to Manchester. The total commitment could run into the tens of millions of dollars.
Pochettino has long been linked with the United job, having frequently asked about the club over the last decade. Supporters of the move point to his history of developing young talent—such as Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min during his time at Tottenham—and his attacking style.
“In terms of how he [Pochettino] wants the team to play, his character, and everything, yes, it’s very comparable to Jurgen Klopp,” former United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin told ComeOn.
🚨🔴 OFFICIAL: Michael Carrick has been sacked, Manchester United confirm. pic.twitter.com/UYsFpAmUi3
Man United sack Carrick, sources say Pochettino close
Others, including former captain Gary Neville, have warned that the incoming manager must secure guarantees regarding transfer budgets and squad reinforcements. Speaking on The Overlap, Neville insisted that the 54-year-old must demand immediate investment to fix a porous backline, warning him against accepting verbal promises from the hierarchy. The club’s current defensive options include Noussair Mazraoui, Patrick Dorgu, Leny Yoro, and Ayden Heaven.
Immediate Challenges
While the club seeks a permanent solution, the timing of the transition remains fluid. Pochettino is expected to oversee the United States’ upcoming Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal matches against Haiti on November 14 and November 17. As things stand, he is expected to remain in charge of those fixtures before any move to Old Trafford is finalized.
United’s next Premier League fixture is scheduled for November 22, when they travel to Anfield to face Liverpool. Should the appointment process conclude in the coming days, the club hopes to have their new manager in place for that encounter. The club has been under new leadership since July 2024, when Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada, and Jason Wilcox began reshaping the football operations following a lengthy period of restructuring.
Earlier coverage: Mauricio Pochettino Favourite to Replace Michael Carrick as Man Utd Manager
