Sir Jim Ratcliffe's next axe swing looms over Manchester United
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is poised to wield the managerial axe again at Manchester United after a 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth, a loss that has triggered a crisis meeting and prompted bookmakers to halt bets on Michael Carrick’s dismissal.
Ratcliffe's wider football empire
Since the INEOS group took charge of football operations at Old Trafford almost three years ago, the minority owner has added French side Nice and Swiss club FC Lausanne‑Sport to his portfolio. The Manchester United chief, a lifelong fan of the club, has overseen a series of managerial changes that have yet to stabilise the team.
Carrick under pressure after Bournemouth
Michael Carrick, now 45, is set to become the third boss sacked by the INEOS‑backed owner since the takeover. United fans turned their ire on Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family during the 3-0 loss, and the board is reportedly holding a crisis meeting to decide Carrick’s fate.
Bookmakers have stopped offering markets on Carrick’s termination, instead taking bets on his successor. Eddie Howe, former Newcastle manager, leads the shortlist, followed by former German national coach Julian Nagelsmann and Italy’s Antonio Conte, who has denied any talks with the club.
When asked whether he expected to be in charge for the upcoming Saturday clash with Chelsea, Carrick said: “I take the responsibility, I accept the responsibility … whatever happens, I respect the position I am in.” He added that he felt the continued support of the fans after they sang his name following the Bournemouth defeat.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe pushes Michael Carrick's sack plan as United falters
Potential successors and club history
Former Arsenal and France World Cup winner Patrick Vieira, who managed Nice from June 2018 until December 2020, praised Ratcliffe’s hands‑off style, saying the owner “never interfered with my work” and allowed him to do his job freely.
Nice, another INEOS asset, have already cycled through eight managers since Vieira’s sacking less than six years ago; Olivier Pantaloni, appointed in the summer, now leads a side sitting 10th after eight league games.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013, United have employed eleven managers; Carrick would be the twelfth if dismissed. The club’s recent form includes no wins in the last eight matches and five defeats, with the last victory a 4-0 Champions League win over Sabah FC on 10 September.
Manchester United host Chelsea on 31 October at Old Trafford. After eight rounds, the team sit on seven points in sixteenth place, a position that underscores the mounting pressure on the current coaching staff.