BREAKING Man Utd dismiss Michael Carrick as relegation looms
Manchester United have officially part ways with head coach Michael Carrick, a move announced on Thursday morning. The decision follows a disastrous run of results that leaves the Red Devils in the relegation zone after ten games of the Premier League season.
Carrick secured the permanent role during the summer after impressing as interim boss last season, but has been unable to recapture the magic of his first spell at the club. His tenure began after a successful interim spell that saw the team climb the table.
Successor named
Reports indicate that former Tottenham and Paris Saint‑Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino, a United‑born coach, is set to take over at Old Trafford. The club had previously listed Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte among its shortlist.
The club issued an official statement confirming Carrick’s departure, noting that the decision had been expected since the Sunday draw with Aston Villa that dropped United into the relegation places. The club had been preparing for the change since the match against Aston Villa.
United bolsters January squad with two Premier League defenders
Carrick returned to the club in January and guided the team to third place in the Premier League. He won twelve of the remaining seventeen matches of the 2025/26 season, amassing more points than any other side during that period.
Following a disappointing start to the campaign, the club concluded that a change was required to achieve its objectives, praising Carrick’s dedication and professionalism. The club’s statement described Carrick as a legend whose leadership will be remembered fondly.
Carrick departs with United sitting eighteenth in the table, a position linked to the so‑called “bench curse” that has lingered since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. The 18th‑place standing places United among the league’s bottom three.
Eleven different coaches have occupied the role in twelve separate spells, with Carrick himself counting two of those, one as interim, and Mauricio Pochettino will become the twelfth to attempt to restore success at the Theatre of Dreams. Carrick’s two spells include one as interim manager, contributing to the total of twelve coaching appointments.