Manchester United Sack Michael Carrick as Pochettino Emerges as Successor

Manchester United have dismissed Michael Carrick as head coach following a disappointing start to the 2026/27 season, with former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino emerging as the leading candidate to replace him.

The club confirmed Carrick’s departure on Thursday, November 12, bringing an end to his second spell at Old Trafford less than six months after he signed a two-year contract.

In an official statement, Manchester United said the decision followed a difficult start to the campaign and that a managerial change was considered necessary to achieve the club’s ambitions.

The club also acknowledged Carrick’s contribution during the previous season, when he guided United to a third-place Premier League finish after taking charge in January.

United said they intended to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible.

Why Manchester United decided to dismiss Carrick

Carrick’s departure followed a difficult run of results that left Manchester United in the Premier League relegation zone.

The team had collected only eight points from its opening 10 league matches, with just one league victory during that period.

Their latest setback was a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa at Old Trafford on November 8.

United fought back after falling behind twice by two goals, with late goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu helping them secure a point. However, the result did little to ease concerns about the team’s defensive organization and inconsistent performances.

The club’s leadership had reportedly given Carrick three matches against Chelsea, Roma and Aston Villa to improve the situation before the international break.

United lost 2-0 to Chelsea, defeated Roma 3-2 in the Champions League and drew with Aston Villa.

Although the victory over Roma demonstrated the team’s ability to recover from difficult situations, the overall run of results was not enough to convince the hierarchy to retain Carrick.

According to Sky Sports and The Guardian, director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada were involved in the review of the manager’s position before the decision was approved by the club’s leadership.

Carrick leaves after taking United back into the Champions League

Despite his difficult final months, Carrick’s departure does not erase the progress he made during his initial interim appointment.

He returned to Manchester United in January 2026 following the departure of Ruben Amorim.

During the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign, Carrick won 12 of his 17 matches, helping the club finish third in the Premier League and secure qualification for the Champions League.

Manchester United acknowledged this achievement in its departure statement, noting that the team accumulated the highest points total in the league during that period.

His successful interim spell earned him a permanent two-year contract in May 2026.

However, the contrast between last season’s results and the club’s subsequent decline highlighted the difficulty of maintaining consistency at Old Trafford.

Carrick now leaves after a relatively short permanent spell, becoming another manager to depart during the club’s prolonged search for stability following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.

Pochettino emerges as Manchester United’s preferred replacement

Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as Manchester United’s leading candidate following reports that discussions between the club and the Argentine manager have advanced.

The 54-year-old has considerable Premier League experience, having managed Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.

He also previously managed Paris Saint-Germain, where he won domestic trophies before leaving in 2022.

Pochettino is currently head coach of the United States men’s national team, a position he took up in 2024.

According to Sky Sports, Manchester United have reached a verbal agreement with him over taking charge at Old Trafford, although the club has not yet officially announced his appointment.

His existing contract with the United States reportedly contains a release clause of approximately £7 million, which could facilitate his departure.

Pochettino is expected to complete his international commitments before potentially beginning work at Manchester United.

What Pochettino could bring to Old Trafford

If appointed, Pochettino will inherit a team facing immediate pressure to improve its league position and restore confidence among supporters.

His previous Premier League teams have generally been associated with aggressive pressing, high-energy football and an emphasis on developing players.

At Tottenham, he helped build a competitive side that challenged for major honors and reached the 2019 Champions League final.

His experience managing different clubs and working with international players could become relevant as United attempt to rebuild their performances.

However, the challenges extend beyond selecting a new manager.

Manchester United have changed managers several times since Ferguson left in 2013, but have struggled to establish a sustained period of success.

The club will therefore need to address questions involving recruitment, squad balance, defensive consistency and the wider football structure.

Pochettino’s appointment, if completed, will be an important managerial decision, but it will not automatically resolve every problem affecting the team.

Manchester United face an important test after the international break

The timing of Carrick’s departure means the club must organise its transition before competitive football resumes after the international break.

United are scheduled to face Liverpool at Anfield on November 22, a fixture that could become an early test for a new managerial arrangement if Pochettino’s appointment is completed in time.

For now, the confirmed development is Carrick’s dismissal, while Pochettino remains the reported leading candidate rather than an officially announced Manchester United manager.

The coming days should provide greater clarity about the appointment and the direction the club intends to take.

For United supporters, the immediate priority will be seeing whether the managerial change can help the team move away from the relegation zone and restore consistency during the remainder of the season.