Manchester United sack manager Carrick with club in relegation zone
Manchester United have dismissed manager Michael Carrick after a poor start to the season left the club 18th in the Premier League table.
Manchester United sacked manager Michael Carrick on Thursday morning after a disastrous start to the campaign that has left the 20-time English champions 18th in the table and mired in the Premier League relegation zone with just eight points from 10 games.
The decision follows a meeting of the Old Trafford hierarchy, featuring minority shareholder Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada, and director of football Jason Wilcox, in Monaco on Wednesday. Ratcliffe and the Glazers signed off on the recommendation to remove Carrick after a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa at Old Trafford last weekend exposed ongoing defensive frailties.
That chaotic stalemate capped a miserable run that has seen United win only three of their 15 matches across all competitions this season. Carrick arrived at Carrington on Thursday morning where he was given the news, bringing an abrupt end to a 10-month tenure that began when he took over from the sacked Ruben Amorim in January.
From Third-Place Revival to Record Winless Slump
Carrick’s permanent appointment in May, which secured a contract until 2028, initially looked like a masterstroke. Taking over a team sitting seventh, the former United midfielder guided the Red Devils to 12 wins from 17 matches at the tail end of the previous campaign, surging to a third-place finish and Champions League qualification with the highest points tally in the league during that stretch.
That momentum evaporated immediately in August. United’s solitary league victory came all the way back against newly promoted Ipswich Town, kicking off a nine-match winless run in the top flight that represents the club's longest drought since 1984, according to data firm Opta. Their struggles included a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth, a 4-1 Champions League drubbing at Como, and a 2-0 defeat away to Chelsea.
Internal friction added to the turmoil as pressure mounted on the dugout. Carrick dropped club captain Bruno Fernandes to the bench against Bournemouth following critical comments about the team, and defender Lisandro Martinez publicly criticized the club's hierarchy before getting sent off in the Chelsea defeat for pushing his arm into the face of Wesley Fofana.
| Metric | Under Carrick (Previous Season) | Under Carrick (This Season) |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Won | 12 (out of 17) | 3 (out of 15 across all competitions) |
| League Position | Finished 3rd | 18th (Relegation Zone) |
| Points after 10 Games | - | 8 points |
United stated that the club has come to the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve their ambitions, adding that they intend to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible. Despite the unravelling of the team's form, the club praised Carrick's professionalism, noting in their statement, 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.
Pochettino Targeted as Next Manager amid US Soccer Deal
Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as the clear favourite to fill the vacancy, with United making contact with USA Soccer to trigger a £7.5 million release clause in his contract. Pochettino took over the United States men's national team and is poised to return to the Premier League after previous spells with Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea.
Negotiations have progressed quickly, though the proposed appointment could face logistical hurdles. Pochettino is expected to remain in charge of the United States for upcoming CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final matches, leaving him minimal time to prepare for his first test in English football's most demanding job: a daunting trip to Anfield to face arch-rivals Liverpool on November 22.
Former United midfielder Paul Scholes expressed mixed feelings about the incoming Argentine on The Good, The Bad & The Football. I think he’s got the presence to manage a big football club like Manchester United. He’s got the respect to do it. He works with young players which obviously Manchester United want,
Scholes said. My only slight concern is have that we come a little bit too late to the party. I think we’ve done that in the past. You look at [Louis] Van Gaal, his best years were probably behind him. [Jose] Mourinho again, I think his best years were probably behind him.
Ownership Under Renewed Pressure from Relegation Threat
The dismissal highlights the ongoing instability at Old Trafford, making Carrick the latest managerial casualty following David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag, and Amorim.
Former manager Erik ten Hag, speaking to ESPN prior to Carrick's dismissal, warned that the threat of relegation is entirely genuine for the club. They’re all strong squads, all good managers. And if you end up on the wrong side once and you really get into that vicious circle — yes, then it can become very, very difficult.
For the United States Soccer Federation, losing Pochettino would represent a major disruption. No official announcement has been made by Manchester United or the United States Soccer Federation.
