Carrick sacked by Man Utd with Pochettino appointment expected

Michael Carrick has been sacked as Manchester United's head coach, with Mauricio Pochettino expected to replace him.

Rumours had been rife that Carrick may be replaced during the international break, after a dreadful start to the season left United 18th in the Premier League table. 

Despite fighting back from 2-0 and 4-2 down to draw 4-4 with Aston Villa on Sunday – the first time any team had recovered from two goals behind to equalise on two occasions in a single Premier League match – United are guaranteed to spend at least 15 days in the relegation zone.

It will be their longest run of successive days inside the drop zone since September and October 1986, when they endured a spell of 26 days in the First Division's danger zone.

That was also the last time United were in a worse position in the table at least 10 games into a season, having sat 20th on that occasion. 

Back then, Ron Atkinson was dismissed in November, with Alex Ferguson taking the reins and spending 27 glittering years at the club.

Antonio Conte, Julian Nagelsmann and Eddie Howe had all been touted as possible replacements this time around, with the Red Devils seeking their third permanent boss since Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS took control of the club's football operations in February 2024. 

However, United States boss Pochettino is widely expected to be announced as Carrick's successor.

A club statement read: "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 initially had a hugely positive impact upon replacing Ruben Amorim on an interim basis in January. 

He led United to a third-place finish in the Premier League last season, winning 12 of his 17 games at the helm in 2025-26 (70%, D3 L2). The Red Devils also averaged 1.94 goals per game in that span, while conceding 1.05.

Having made Carrick their permanent boss on a two-year contract this summer, United have won three of 15 games in all competitions in 2026-27 (20%, D5 L5), averaging 1.6 goals for and exactly 2.0 goals against per match.

Their 30 goals conceded across all competitions are the joint-second most among all teams in Europe's top five leagues, with only Ligue 1 side Lens shipping more (31, also 30 conceded by Crystal Palace, Sassuolo and Getafe).

United have failed to keep a clean sheet in 10 Premier League games this term, with their only victory coming by a 5-2 scoreline against newly promoted Ipswich Town in August, failing to win any of their subsequent eight matches (D5 L3).

It is the first time they have started a campaign without a shutout in their first 10 matches since that 1986-97 season, while they are the first top-flight team to start a season with such a run, after finishing in the top three the previous campaign, since Liverpool in 1966-67.

Old Trafford was the scene of protests against the way INEOS and the Glazer family have run the club on Sunday, with United's players also attracting fierce criticism from their own supporters throughout the campaign. 

Following a 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth last month, large sections of the Red Devils' fanbase applauded Carrick down the tunnel, before booing his players off. 

Carrick, who previously had a short-lived spell as United's caretaker boss back in 2021, ended his second stint in the Old Trafford dugout with a 47% win rate, which is actually the highest of any permanent boss in the INEOS era, ahead of Erik ten Hag's 35% and Amorim's 38%.

United travel to Anfield to face old rivals Liverpool on November 22. A trip to Sporting CP in the Champions League follows three days later, with the Red Devils having six points on the board in that competition, after four matches.