Man United sack Carrick while in relegation zone; sources say Pochettino close

Manchester United have sacked head coach Michael Carrick, the club confirmed Thursday.

The club is hoping to finalize an agreement to hire United States men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino as Carrick’s successor, sources told ESPN.

Carrick leaves Old Trafford with United in the Premier League’s relegation zone after just one league win all season.

Carrick was informed of the decision in a meeting with United executives Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox at Carrington on Thursday morning, following a meeting between Berrada, Wilcox and minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco on Wednesday.

Sources also told ESPN that Berrada held positive talks with U.S Soccer on Wednesday. United have informed U.S. Soccer that they intend to trigger the $10 million (£7m) release clause in Pochettino’s contract with the USMNT once personal terms are agreed upon with the 54-year-old.

Sources told ESPN that after heavy back-to-back defeats to Como and Bournemouth last month, club bosses wanted to give Carrick and the players “a further opportunity” to turn things around.

During what has been described as a “comprehensive review,” it was decided that during the following three games against Chelsea, Roma and Aston Villa, there wasn’t enough evidence to suggest the team “was on the right path.”

United sources told ESPN that the decision to sack Carrick was made because being 18th in the Premier League after 10 games is “not acceptable” and that the squad is “far better than results and performances so far this season have indicated.”

There has been criticism about the lack of clarity around Carrick’s position and the optics of him leading training sessions Tuesday and Wednesday amid mounting talk that he was set for the sack. However, club sources told ESPN that plans for non-international players to train this week were in place more than a month ago.

A club statement said: “Manchester United can confirm that Michael Carrick has departed his role as men’s first-team head coach. … 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.

“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. His leadership and achievements last season will always be fondly remembered.

“The club intends to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible.”

Carrick was initially handed the job on an interim basis following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal in January. He masterminded a surprise 2-0 victory over Manchester City in his first game in charge and went on to win 12 of 17 matches to end the season.

It was enough to finish third in the Premier League and secure a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2023.

United’s form earned Carrick the job on a permanent basis and he signed a two-year contract in May. But the speed of the downturn since then has been startling.

– How Michael Carrick’s stint as Man United boss unravelled – a timeline
– Michael Carrick’s Man United collapse: The stats behind his sacking
– Dawson: Inside Carrick’s Man United reign

United have now fired managers midway through each of the past three seasons. Erik ten Hag was sacked in October 2024, and Amorim was dismissed in January.

Sources told ESPN that the club are relaxed about the possibility of Pochettino managing the United States’ next two games against Haiti on Saturday and Tuesday in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. The situation about how to move forward is set to be resolved between Pochettino and U.S. Soccer.

United expect Pochettino to arrive at Carrington by Wednesday at the latest ahead of his first game in charge against Liverpool at Anfield on Nov. 22. The bulk of United’s international players are also set to return to Carrington by Wednesday.

Sources told ESPN that representatives of Pochettino initially reached out to United to inform the club of the release clause in his contract with U.S. Soccer.