Manchester United have dismissed Michael Carrick from his position as head coach following a poor opening to the 2026/27 campaign.
Carrick’s second spell in the Old Trafford dugout has ended abruptly, with the club deciding to part company with the former midfielder after a run of disappointing results.
According to Andy Mitten, Manchester United have removed Carrick from his role after the club slipped into the Premier League relegation zone. United managed only one victory in their first 10 league matches, leaving them with eight points from that opening run.
The decision comes just six months after Carrick was handed the permanent job following an impressive interim period that had raised hopes of a turnaround at the club.
Last season, Carrick guided United to third place in the Premier League, securing Champions League football and providing a much-needed boost after a difficult period under the previous management.
That progress, however, has failed to carry into the new campaign.
Difficult run
United’s difficult start was compounded by a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como before Bournemouth inflicted another heavy blow with a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford.
A 3-2 comeback against Roma briefly offered Carrick some relief, but the momentum quickly disappeared after United surrendered the chance to claim three points against Aston Villa in a remarkable 4-4 draw on Sunday.
The hosts twice found themselves two goals behind before Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu scored late to secure a share of the spoils.
Despite the fightback, the result did little to address United’s position near the bottom of the Premier League or the defensive problems that had increasingly become a major concern.
Reports indicate that chief executive Omar Berrada and football director Jason Wilcox travelled to Monaco on Wednesday for discussions with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe regarding Carrick’s future.
Following those talks, the club hierarchy reportedly settled on a managerial change, with Berrada and Wilcox subsequently returning to Manchester to inform Carrick of the decision.
The 45-year-old had continued overseeing training sessions at Carrington while his future remained uncertain, working with the players who had not joined their respective national teams during the international break.
United are already understood to have reached an agreement in principle with Mauricio Pochettino to take over as the club’s next manager.
The Argentine coach is reportedly interested in returning to the Premier League, although Manchester United still need to resolve his departure from his current position with the United States national team.
Pochettino is said to have a release clause of around £7 million, with further costs potentially involved in securing members of his coaching team.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea boss is currently preparing the USA for their forthcoming matches against Haiti, meaning the timing of his arrival in Manchester remains unclear.
For Carrick, the dismissal marks a painful ending to another chapter at the club where he spent 12 years as a player.
He won five Premier League titles and the Champions League during his playing career and remains a respected figure in Manchester United’s history, despite his latest managerial spell ending prematurely.
United must now turn their attention to rebuilding their season, with a challenging away fixture against Liverpool next on the horizon.
