Manchester United sack manager Michael Carrick

Manchester United sack manager Michael Carrick

Manchester United have dismissed Michael Carrick as men's first team head coach, bringing an end to an 11-month tenure that began with a third-place Premier League finish last season but collapsed into a relegation-zone struggle this autumn. The decision, confirmed by the club on November 12, follows a string of poor results that leaves the team 18th in the Premier League table after securing just one win in ten matches, marking their lowest position ten games into a top-flight campaign since 1986/87. Gary Neville described the club's handling of the dismissal as disgusting via Sky Sports News, pointing out that Carrick was left taking training on the pitch in Manchester while executives simultaneously met in Monaco and pursued his successor.

The transition marks a definitive shift for the club’s hierarchy, with CEO Omar Berrada informing Carrick of his departure at Carrington on Thursday morning. The decision was ratified by the board following a meeting with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco on Wednesday. Manchester United have now reached a full agreement in principle to secure Mauricio Pochettino as his successor, with talks between the club and the US Soccer Federation currently at the paperwork and regulatory processes stage. Pochettino is expected to become the club's eighth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Why did the club act now?

Despite securing only one win in 10 league matches since being handed the reins permanently during the summer—a victory over Ipswich Town—Carrick’s exit was delayed while he attempted to navigate the squad through a period of intense pressure. The club had previously afforded him a three-game window to rectify form following defeats to Como and Bournemouth, yet the brief reprieve of a win against Roma and a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa proved insufficient to satisfy the Old Trafford hierarchy. Neville noted that the writing was on the wall after the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth, stating, I think after the Bournemouth game I said at the time that Manchester United effectively watched Michael Carrick resign on the pitch at the end of the game with that lap around, that wave goodbye. I think he was expecting it to come at that point and they were indecisive.

Internal friction also contributed to the instability. Reports suggest Carrick clashed with team captain Bruno Fernandes after the midfielder questioned tactical decisions following a 4-1 Champions League loss to Como. Fernandes was subsequently benched for the following fixture against Bournemouth. Carrick also had a run-in with forward Matheus Cunha during the Roma win, where the manager physically intervened to prevent the player from entering the pitch during a celebration to avoid potential disciplinary sanctions.

What does the transition cost the club?

The financial commitment to overhaul the coaching staff is substantial. Beyond the £7.5million required to release Pochettino from his contract with USA Soccer, the dismissal of Carrick and his associated staff is expected to cost the club approximately £5million.

How are observers reacting to the change?

Reaction to the departure has been polarized. Some, including former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, have questioned the sentimentality surrounding Carrick’s exit. Michael Carrick got the job on the back of nothing, Carragher said via The Mirror. He's been managing one of the biggest clubs in the world on the back of basically not really doing a lot. He was never at the calibre of managers in the Premier League; the managers in the Premier League are the best in the world and he's just not quite at that level.

Conversely, others have criticized the club's communication strategy. Rio Ferdinand blasted Manchester United for a disrespectful statement, saying it was like ChatGPT. Gary Neville similarly condemned the board's optics, stating, In the last 24-48 hours it's been spectacularly bad to be in Monaco as an executive and an owner whilst your manager, who's a club legend, is taking training on the pitch and simultaneously approaching the US Soccer Federation to approach Mauricio Pochettino. It's just quite simply disgusting. That falls well below the standard of what you would expect in any other business, in any other industry. It would be constructive dismissal and you'd be getting sued.

Players have also begun offering tributes. Harry Maguire took to Instagram to post, Will always be a legend. Respect. Thank you, alongside a photo of him shaking hands with the departing manager. Maguire had played in all but two of United's matches under Carrick last season and started all but one league match this term.

Fans have also expressed frustration regarding the club's broader direction. On social media, adult content creator and Manchester United follower Skylar Skye expressed dissatisfaction with the move: I’m actually so upset about Carrick, like how many managers are we going to go through before we realise it’s not the managers that are the problem. It’s the people running the club. Neville echoed that sentiment, noting that supporters have grown numb after eight managers and £1.6 billion spent on players since 2013, pointing to a recent defensive line of Patrick Dorgu, Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro, and Ayden Heaven as evidence of systemic recruitment failure.

What happens next in the dugout?

The club intends to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible, with Pochettino lined up to take charge ahead of the first match following the international break: a fixture against Liverpool at Anfield on November 22. Neville warned that the incoming Argentine must demand a massive budget, control his own recruitment, and execute a major squad overhaul that could require around 10 new players across the defense, midfield, and forward line to truly change fortunes at Old Trafford.

• Carrick secures his only league win of the current campaign against Ipswich Town.
• Carrick holds clear-the-air talks with Bruno Fernandes following tactical disagreements.
• Carrick takes charge of a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa.
• Jim Ratcliffe meets with Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox in Monaco to decide Carrick’s future.
• Carrick is formally dismissed at Carrington on November 12.

While the club’s official statement acknowledged the disappointing start to the season, it also paid tribute to the former midfielder’s legacy. 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, the statement read. The board now faces the pressure of delivering immediate results under incoming leadership against a backdrop of ongoing criticism from supporters who view the leadership rather than the dugout as the primary obstacle to the club's success.

This situation mirrors developments elsewhere in the league, where Crystal Palace also parted ways with manager Pierre Sage on Thursday after 16 matches, leaving Palace at the bottom of the table and pursuing former Tottenham manager Thomas Frank.