Michael Carrick sacked by Man United with club stuck in relegation zone after latest crisis
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Michael Carrick has been sacked as Manchester United manager with the club sitting in the Premier League relegation places after 10 games.
A second Old Trafford comeback of the week, this time battling from two goals down twice to rescue a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday, could not save Carrick’s job and he departs United just three months into the start of the season and with his side 18th during the international break.
United ended a nine-game winless run when they came from two goals down to beat Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday but they have not won in eight attempts in the Premier League and have just one top-flight win this campaign.
It represents a stark turnaround from Carrick’s positive impact as interim manager last season, when the former midfielder went beyond expectations after replacing Ruben Amorim in January, steadying the ship and guiding them to Champions League qualification.
Carrick’s position has been under threat since the damaging defeats against Como and Bournemouth last month, but he survived crisis talks with the United hierarchy and was given time to turn results around, but speculation over a change begun the day after Sunday’s chaotic draw and United States boss Mauricio Pochettino is expected to succeed Carrick having reportedly reached a verbal agreement with the club.
United have made contact with US Soccer over compensation for Pochettino with a reported figure of $10m (£7.4m) set to be paid to release him from his contract which was due to run through to the 2030 World Cup. His current staff are set to join him at Old Trafford and would require further compensation payments.
The timing of the November international break, with a full two weeks before their next game away to Liverpool in the Premier League, has prompted United to finally act and leave minority owners Ineos searching for a fourth permanent manager in three years.
Though Pochettino is the overwhelming favourite to become the next head coach, Eddie Howe is available following his departure from Newcastle in the summer while former Bayern Munich and Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann is also an option. Aston Villa’s Unai Emery and Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler are admired but their clubs would demand significant compensation.
Manchester United confirmed the news of Carrick’s exit with a statement which reads: “Manchester United can confirm that Michael Carrick has departed his role as men’s first-team head coach.
“Michael rejoined the club in January and guided the team to a third-placed Premier League finish by winning 12 out of the remaining 17 games of the 2025/26 season, accumulating the highest points tally in the league during that period.
“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. Just as he did as a player, he has conducted himself with the highest standards of dedication and professionalism throughout his time back with the club. His leadership and achievements last season will always be fondly remembered.
“The club intends to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible.”
Carrick initially returned to Old Trafford as interim manager – his second stint in caretaker role – after the dismissal of Amorim at the beginning of the year. He was rewarded with the full-time position after guiding United to third in the Premier League last term and securing a return to the Champions League.
United spent £155m on three new midfielders this summer – signing Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Andre Santos, after missing out on their top targets Elliott Anderson and Sandro Tonali – but failed to sign a back-up left-back to Luke Shaw or another forward to support the injury-prone Benjamin Sesko.
But defender Lisandro Martinez criticised the club’s hierarchy for not doing more to support Carrick following the 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid earlier this month while captain Bruno Fernandes questioned his manager’s tactics following the 4-1 loss at Como a week later.
Carrick had gambled by dropping captain Fernandes for the home match against Bournemouth but a dismal 3-0 defeat instead highlighted how a fractured dressing room has unravelled since the beginning of the season.
Carrick said Fernandes did not play against Bournemouth due to “pure football” reasons before holding clear-the-air talks with the Portuguese and selecting him to start as his captain in the game at Stamford Bridge.
Another defeat followed against Chelsea before United finally ended their losing run by beating Roma. The stirring win did not save Carrick’s job, however, even after another remarkable comeback against Aston Villa on Sunday.
United have conceded 30 goals in their 14 games this season and have won just three times – against newly promoted Ipswich in the Premier League and Sabah and Roma in Europe. They will travel to Liverpool on 22 November having spent the fortnight in the bottom three.
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