By Amofokhai Williams
Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick as head coach following a disastrous start to the 2026/27 season that has left the Premier League giants languishing in the relegation zone.
The decision, announced on Thursday, November 12, brings an abrupt end to Carrick’s second spell at Old Trafford, barely six months after he was handed a permanent contract running until 2028.
United’s decision follows a disastrous run of domestic results, with the club recording just one victory in their opening 10 Premier League matches, collecting eight points and dropping to 18th position.
The poor performance represents one of the worst starts to a Premier League campaign in the club’s history and has intensified pressure on the hierarchy to make significant changes to arrest the decline.
In a statement, Manchester United acknowledged Carrick’s contribution during his initial spell in charge but said the disappointing start to the current campaign had made a managerial change necessary.
“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,” the club said.
United also praised the former midfielder’s professionalism and described him as a club legend, acknowledging his achievements during his return to the managerial position.
Carrick’s dismissal comes despite his impressive work during the second half of last season, when he was appointed interim head coach following the departure of Ruben Amorim in January 2026.
The former England international transformed United’s fortunes, winning 12 of his 17 matches and guiding the club to a third-place finish in the Premier League, thereby securing qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
His impressive results earned him a permanent appointment in May, with the club expressing confidence in his ability to restore United’s competitiveness.
However, the 45-year-old struggled to reproduce that form this season, with defensive weaknesses, inconsistent performances and an inability to secure league victories leaving the team in serious trouble.
United’s last league victory came against Ipswich Town in August, and their subsequent eight-match winless run in the competition became a major source of concern for the club’s management.
The final blow came after Sunday’s extraordinary 4-4 draw against Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
United found themselves two goals behind within the opening four minutes after goals from Alysson and Nicolas Jackson exposed their defensive frailties.
Although Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty and Youri Tielemans scored an equaliser before half-time, further defensive mistakes allowed Aston Villa to establish a 4-2 advantage.
Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu subsequently scored late goals to rescue a point, but the dramatic comeback was insufficient to convince the club’s decision-makers that Carrick remained the right person to lead the team.
The dismissal reportedly followed discussions involving minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox.
According to reports by Sky Sports, Berrada and Wilcox recommended a managerial change following their assessment of the club’s performances, with Ratcliffe approving the decision during a meeting in Monaco.
Pochettino emerges as leading replacement
United have reportedly reached a framework agreement with former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino to take over at Old Trafford.
Pochettino, who currently manages the United States men’s national team, is expected to leave his international position to return to club football.
The Argentine has previously managed Southampton, Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, building a reputation for developing young players and implementing an aggressive, attacking style of football.
Sky Sports reports that Pochettino has a £7 million release clause in his contract with the United States Soccer Federation.
However, his immediate availability could be affected by the United States’ forthcoming Nations League fixtures against Haiti, meaning he may not begin work at Old Trafford until after the international break.
