Michael Carrick has been relieved of his duties as Manchester United head coach, bringing an emotional end to his time in charge at Old Trafford.
Carrick, a United legend as a player, originally stepped in as interim boss after Ruben Amorim left at the end of last season. He delivered a fantastic run, guiding the club to third place in the Premier League and securing Champions League football, which earned him a permanent two‑year contract in the summer.
But this season quickly turned into a nightmare. United have recorded their worst start to a top‑flight campaign in 40 years, picking up just one Premier League win from 10 matches, leaving them sitting in the relegation zone with only eight points on the board. Heavy defeats to Bournemouth and Como, plus growing unrest inside the dressing room and frustration from fans, piled the pressure firmly on Carrick’s shoulders.
The final decision was made by CEO Omar Berrada and Director of Football Jason Wilcox, who travelled to Monaco to present their recommendation to Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Even while the club were secretly finalising plans to replace him, Carrick still turned up at Carrington each morning to take training, something many football journalists have criticised as unfair and upsetting for the United stalwart.
United have already moved quickly to line up Mauricio Pochettino as his replacement. Pochettino is currently in charge of the USA men’s national team, and United will need to pay a buyout fee to secure his services. He is expected to take over once his USA international break commitments are finished.
It is a sad and difficult end for Carrick, who gave so many years of service to Manchester United as both player and coach, but the club’s hierarchy felt they had no choice but to act to try to save the season.
