Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick after the club’s worst ever start to a Premier League season, with USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino verbally agreeing to replace him.
The decision was ratified by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe at a summit in Monaco, following recommendations from chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox. It comes a day after we reported that United had opened talks with Pochettino ahead of the meeting.
Carrick’s assistants, Jonny Evans and Jonathan Woodgate, are also expected to leave the club.
- Carrick signed a two-year contract on 22 May, less than six months ago
- One win in 10 Premier League games this season, with United in the relegation zone
- Pochettino has a release clause of around £7m in his USA contract
- He is expected to start at United next Thursday
What was said
United confirmed the news in a statement shortly after Carrick left the training ground.
“The extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions.”Manchester United statement
The club added that it intends to appoint a permanent successor “as quickly as possible”. Carrick had insisted he would not walk away and expected “to move forward” through the international break.
“There are real issues within that football club.”Gary Neville, speaking to NBC
From top three to bottom three
Carrick’s fall has been remarkably quick. He took charge in January 2026 after Ruben Amorim’s dismissal and won 12 of his 17 matches, steering United to third place and back into the Champions League. That run earned him a Premier League Manager of the Season nomination and a permanent deal.
This season has unravelled. United have won three of 15 matches in all competitions, including a 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como, a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth and a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea. A 3-2 comeback win over Roma ended a nine-game winless run, but Sunday’s 4-4 draw with Aston Villa left them inside the bottom three.
It is a sharp contrast with the club’s long-term Premier League record, and the pressure on Carrick first surfaced last spring when injuries and a form slump threatened his top-four push.
Pochettino’s arrival
Pochettino is likely to stay with the USA for their Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against Haiti on Saturday and Wednesday, before starting at Old Trafford next Thursday. Talks with the US Soccer Federation over his release are expected to gather pace in the coming days.
United have considered him on three previous occasions. At Tottenham he set the standard for the club, ranked as Spurs’ best Premier League era manager after reaching the 2019 Champions League final. He later managed Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
He will be United’s eighth permanent head coach since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. The churn is clear when set against the longest-serving Premier League managers, and he adds another name to the list of every Premier League manager since 1992.
Frequently asked questions
Here are quick answers to the main questions about Carrick’s sacking and what happens next.
Why did Manchester United sack Michael Carrick?
United sacked Carrick after the club’s worst ever start to a Premier League season, with one league win in 10 games leaving them in the relegation zone.
Who will replace Michael Carrick at Manchester United?
USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino has verbally agreed to take over and is expected to start next Thursday.
How much will Pochettino cost Manchester United?
Pochettino has a release clause of around £7m in his USA contract.
How many permanent managers have Man Utd had since Sir Alex Ferguson?
Pochettino will be United’s eighth permanent head coach since Ferguson retired in 2013.
Source: Sky Sports.
About the author: Harvey Watkins
Harvey Watkins is a football specialist who lives and breathes match predictions, betting angles, and stats-based analysis. With more than six years in sports content, he has earned a strong reputation for producing football coverage that is sharp, informed, and backed by the numbers. His work digs into form, xG, trends, team data, and market movement to give readers a…