Manchester United sack Michael Carrick with Pochettino lined up to take over
Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick as head coach with the club in the Premier League relegation zone, and have lined up USA coach Mauricio Pochettino to replace him.
How it ended
Carrick arrived at the Carrington training ground on Thursday morning and was told the decision by chief executive Omar Berrada, The Standard reported. Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox had travelled to Monaco to meet Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who controls sporting policy, after a review led by Wilcox, according to The Guardian.
United have won one of their first 10 Premier League matches, The Standard said. A 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth was followed by a 2-0 loss at Chelsea, a win over Roma and a 4-4 home draw with Aston Villa, after which the club concluded a change was needed, the Guardian reported.
From rescue act to casualty
Carrick took over as interim boss in January after Ruben Amorim's departure. In the club's words, he guided the team to a third-placed finish by winning 12 of the remaining 17 games of 2025-26.
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 statement called Carrick "a Manchester United legend" and said the club "intends to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible."
Pochettino in the frame
Pochettino, a former Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea manager, left Chelsea in May 2024 and took the USA job four months later. The Guardian said United will also have to pay to bring in his staff.
He is expected to take charge for United's first match after the international break, away at Liverpool, The Standard reported.
| Season context | Detail |
|---|---|
| Premier League position | 18th, one point behind Coventry |
| Champions League standings | 17th |
| Head coaches fired in 2026 | Two (Amorim in January, Carrick now) |
| Managers since Ferguson (2013) | Eight, including interim Ralf Rangnick |
Source: The Guardian; The Standard.
It is the first time United have fired two head coaches in one calendar year, the Guardian noted.