Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick, bringing a sudden end to a reign that began with so much promise and collapsed in the space of ten league games. The club confirmed the decision on Thursday, with United sitting 18th in the Premier League and inside the relegation zone after their worst start to a season in 40 years.
It is a brutal fall for a man who was hailed as the answer only a few months ago. Carrick took charge on an interim basis in January after Ruben Amorim was sacked, steadied a listing side, and then produced a run that few inside Old Trafford had dared to expect. United won 11 of his first 16 games, beating Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea along the way, and finished third in the Premier League. That finish earned him a permanent contract running until 2028. This season, though, almost everything that worked last spring has stopped working.
Eight points from ten games
The numbers tell the story plainly. United have taken just eight points from their opening ten league matches, winning only once. They have won three of 15 games in all competitions this season, and their defensive record is among the worst in Europe. The final straw came on Sunday, when a chaotic 4-4 draw at home to Aston Villa left the 20-time English champions one point above the bottom of the table.
In a statement, the club said: “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.” United added that they intend to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible.
Carrick becomes the seventh permanent manager to be sacked by United since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, and the third since Sir Jim Ratcliffe came on board as a minority owner in 2024. The decision was taken during a meeting in Monaco on Wednesday involving Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox. Carrick, 45, was told the news in person on Thursday morning, having taken training as normal earlier in the week.
Pochettino the overwhelming favourite
All attention now turns to who comes next, and one name stands out. Mauricio Pochettino, the current head coach of the United States national team, has emerged as the overwhelming favourite for the job. Sky Sports reported that United have reached a verbal agreement in principle with the Argentine, who has been linked with Old Trafford on several occasions in the past.
There are complications, though. Pochettino signed a contract extension to stay with the United States through to the 2030 World Cup only three months ago, and talks between United, Pochettino and US Soccer are expected to continue this week before anything is made official. The United States play Haiti on Saturday and again on Tuesday, and Pochettino is expected to be in charge of both matches before any move to Old Trafford can happen.
Whoever takes over will inherit a squad low on confidence and a club under intense pressure from its own supporters. The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust has already criticised the ownership in the wake of Carrick’s dismissal, calling on those in charge to take responsibility for the team’s problems rather than simply changing the manager again.
A familiar cycle at Old Trafford
For United, this feels like a story supporters have seen before. Since Ferguson’s retirement, the club has cycled through managers, each arriving with a plan and leaving amid the same questions about structure, recruitment and identity. Carrick’s case is perhaps the most painful of all, because he is a club legend as a player, a midfielder who won multiple trophies under Ferguson, and because his first months in the dugout genuinely looked like a turning point.
The collapse has been swift and severe. Last season’s third-place finish now looks like the exception, not the start of a revival. The players who beat the league’s best sides in the spring have looked lost this autumn, and the defence that was organised and resilient under Carrick has become the leakiest in the division.
United’s next match is a daunting one: a trip to Anfield to face fierce rivals Liverpool on November 22. An interim coach is expected to be in charge for that game if Pochettino’s move cannot be completed in time. For now, the club’s hierarchy faces the same task it has faced so many times in the past 13 years, finding a manager who can do what seven before him could not, and make Manchester United a force again.
FAQs
Why was Michael Carrick sacked by Manchester United?
United sacked Carrick after their worst Premier League start in 40 years. The club have eight points from ten games, sit 18th in the table, and have won only once in the league this season.
Who will replace Michael Carrick at Manchester United?
Mauricio Pochettino, the current United States head coach, is the overwhelming favourite. Reports say United have reached a verbal agreement in principle with him, though talks with US Soccer are still to be completed.
When did Carrick become Manchester United manager?
Carrick took over on an interim basis in January 2026 after Ruben Amorim was sacked. He was handed a permanent contract until 2028 after leading United to a third-place finish last season.
How many managers have Manchester United sacked since Alex Ferguson retired?
Carrick is the seventh permanent manager sacked by United since Ferguson retired in 2013, and the third since Sir Jim Ratcliffe joined as a minority owner in 2024.
What is Manchester United’s next match?
United travel to Anfield to face Liverpool on November 22, their first game after the international break.
For Carrick, the ending is harsh, but the numbers left the club with little choice. For United, the search begins again, and the next appointment may be the most important the club has made since Ferguson walked away.
