Manchester United sack Carrick after worst-ever league start, Pochettino lined up

Manchester United sacked Michael Carrick as men's first-team head coach on Thursday 12 November 2026, after what Sky Sports described as the club's worst-ever start to a Premier League season. Mauricio Pochettino, currently in charge of the United States, is lined up to replace him.

United had won one of their first 10 league matches and were in the relegation zone when the decision was made. ESPN reported that they were 18th.

"Manchester United can confirm that Michael Carrick has departed his role as men's first-team head coach," the club said in a statement carried by ESPN.

"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."

There was a warmer line too, reported by ITV News: "Michael is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend."

From third place to the bottom three

The speed of the fall is what stands out. Carrick was appointed in January 2026 after Ruben Amorim was dismissed, and the turnaround was immediate.

According to ESPN, he won 12 of United's remaining 17 Premier League matches in 2025-26 and took them to a third-place finish, which secured a return to the Champions League. He signed a two-year contract in May 2026, ESPN reported.

The new season undid all of it. Carrick had overseen three wins in 15 matches in all competitions before his dismissal, according to Sky Sports.

The recent run was bruising. ITV News listed a 4-1 defeat away to Como and a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth, followed by a 2-0 defeat away to Chelsea on Saturday 31 October. A 3-2 win over Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday 3 November offered brief relief.

Then came Aston Villa on Sunday 8 November, which proved to be Carrick's final match. United were 2-0 down inside four minutes and trailed 4-2 early in the second half before recovering to draw 4-4, Sky Sports reported.

The comeback showed some fight. But a side in the bottom three that has to score four to take a single point has problems a late rally cannot hide, and the club acted four days later.

Where things stand with Pochettino

The successor was being arranged before Carrick had left the building. BBC Sport reported on Wednesday 11 November that Pochettino was ready to accept an offer from United and that talks had opened about replacing Carrick. AFP reported the same day that United had reached a verbal agreement in principle with Pochettino, while Carrick remained in post.

By Thursday 12 November the outlets differed on how far along it was. Sky Sports said United had an agreement in place with Pochettino. ESPN said he was close to an agreement and that United had contacted the U.S. Soccer Federation. ITV News described him as the leading contender.

The cost of freeing him from his current job is also reported differently. Sky Sports put the release clause in his United States contract at £7m, while ESPN reported $10m (£7.5m).

United's own statement did not name anyone. "The club intends to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible," it said, as quoted by ESPN.

A tight calendar

The complication is timing. Pochettino was still United States head coach on Thursday 12 November and was due to oversee their Nations League quarter-final matches against Haiti on Saturday 14 November and Tuesday 17 November, according to ESPN. The first of those, Haiti v USA, kicks off at 21:30 UTC on Saturday 14 November.

United's next Premier League match is away to Liverpool on Sunday 22 November, five days after the second Haiti game. Whoever is in the dugout for that trip inherits a side that is 18th, has one league win from 10, and has just conceded four to Aston Villa.