Michael Carrick Sacked by Manchester United as Pochettino Deal Nears Completion

Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick after just three months of his first full season in charge, confirming on Thursday that the 45-year-old "has departed his role as men's first-team head coach" after a disastrous start that has left the club in the relegation zone.

United have won one of their first 10 league matches and sit 18th at the November international break. The club said it will appoint a permanent successor "as quickly as possible" — and reports say that successor is almost certain to be Mauricio Pochettino, who has reportedly agreed to leave the USMNT for Old Trafford.

Key Points

• Manchester United sacked Michael Carrick on Thursday, November 12, 2026, after one win in 10 Premier League matches left the club 18th in the relegation zone.
• Carrick, 45, departs three months into his first full season, having been appointed caretaker in January 2026 and earning the job permanently with a third-place finish.
• United have won only three of 15 matches in all competitions and are on an eight-game league winless run, equalling the club's worst-ever sequence.
• Mauricio Pochettino is the strong favourite to succeed him, with ESPN reporting United aim to finalise a deal on Thursday after contacting U.S. Soccer about his $10 million release clause.
• Pochettino is expected at Carrington by November 18, after the USMNT's two Nations League quarter-finals against Haiti, with United next at Liverpool on November 22.

What Happened

The club announced the decision in a short statement on Thursday. "Manchester United can confirm that Michael Carrick has departed his role as men's first-team head coach," it said. "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 intends to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible."

The timing — during the international break, with no league fixture for 10 days — gives the club a window to act. But the numbers left the board little room for patience: eight points from 10 games, one point from safety, and eight league matches without a win, equalling the worst run in club history.

Carrick's final two results hinted at a team that could still fight — a comeback win over Roma in the Champions League on November 3 and a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa on November 8. But they were not enough to save him.

Background and Context

Carrick was appointed caretaker in January 2026 after Ruben Amorim was sacked, and earned the job permanently by guiding United to third place and a Champions League berth. The former United midfielder looked like the steady hand the club had sought.

This season told a different story. United lost 2-0 at Chelsea on October 31, stretching their winless run to nine matches — the first time the club had gone that long without a league win since 1988. Carrick survived defeats to Como and Bournemouth, but the pressure never lifted.

The Villa draw on November 8 summed up the chaos of his final weeks. Villa led 2-0 inside four minutes and 4-2 late on, before substitutes Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu scored in the 92nd and 96th minutes. Fans protested against the owners, and the mood around Old Trafford had turned bleak.

Michael Carrick Sacked: One Win in Ten Seals His Fate

The statistics are stark. One win in 10 league games. Three wins in 15 matches in all competitions, two in the Champions League. Eight points from a possible 30. A place in the relegation zone, with the club's worst-ever league winless run now equalled.

For a club of United's size and spending, that record was impossible to defend. The new season exposed the same defensive fragility that had haunted the team. With the international break offering a clean moment to act, the club moved quickly — and, by all accounts, had already lined up his replacement.

Reactions and Quotes

The club's statement was brief, naming no interim coach. Carrick had insisted after the Villa draw that he would not walk away. "I don't like the situation where we are... but we can definitely do something about it," he told Sky Sports, adding: "That's not going to happen" when asked whether he would resign.

His players had publicly backed him. Dorgu said after the Villa game: "We need to fight for the coach and the club." But the results spoke louder than the dressing room.

Pochettino has said nothing in public. According to The Athletic, he has not discussed the move with USMNT players in Georgia, where the team is preparing for its Nations League quarter-final against Haiti. Sebastian Berhalter said: "We haven't heard anything yet."

Why It Matters

Manchester United in the relegation zone in November would have been unthinkable for most of the Premier League era. The club has churned through a succession of managers since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, and Carrick — the latest to be given the job — lasted barely 10 months.

Appointing Pochettino would be one of the biggest managerial moves in world football. The Argentine took Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final and has managed Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. His arrival would bring instant credibility — but also instant pressure, with a trip to Anfield first up.

It also leaves U.S. Soccer with a problem: Pochettino has led the USMNT since 2024, and losing him mid-campaign would force a sudden search for a new coach.

What Happens Next

According to ESPN, United aim to finalise the deal on Thursday. The club contacted U.S. Soccer the day before dismissing Carrick over his $10 million release clause; once it is triggered, the decision on how the USMNT proceeds rests with U.S. Soccer and Pochettino.

Reports suggest Pochettino is expected at Carrington by November 18, after the USMNT's second Nations League quarter-final leg against Haiti. He is expected to lead the Americans for both legs — the first in Miami on Saturday, November 14, and the second on Tuesday, November 17 — before flying to England.

United's next match is at Liverpool on Sunday, November 22. If the deal is completed as quickly as reports suggest, the new manager could be in the dugout at Anfield for his first game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Michael Carrick sacked?
United won one of their first 10 Premier League matches and sit 18th, on an eight-game winless run that equals the club's worst-ever sequence.

Who will replace Michael Carrick?
Mauricio Pochettino is the strong favourite. Reports say he has agreed to leave the USMNT, and ESPN reports United aim to finalise the deal on Thursday, November 12.

When will Pochettino join Manchester United?
Reports suggest he is expected at Carrington by November 18, after the USMNT's two Nations League quarter-finals against Haiti.

Where are United in the Premier League table?
United are 18th after 10 matches, with eight points, one point from safety.

What is United's next match?
United travel to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, November 22, after the international break.

Related coverage: United's 4-4 draw with Aston Villa on November 8 and the 2-0 defeat at Chelsea on October 31.