Manchester United on Thursday sacked head coach Michael Carrick following a disastrous start to the 2026โ27 Premier League season, with the club languishing in the relegation zone after securing just one victory in its opening 10 league matches.
The 45-year-old former United midfielder was dismissed after a review of the team's performances, bringing an end to his 11-month tenure at Old Trafford.
United are currently 18th in the Premier League standings with eight points from 10 matches, marking their worst start to a top-flight campaign in four decades.
The decision followed Sunday's dramatic 4-4 draw against Aston Villa, which left United in the bottom three despite twice recovering from two-goal deficits.
๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ค'๐ฌ ๐๐ฑ๐ข๐ญ
In an official statement, Manchester United acknowledged Carrick's contribution but said a managerial change had become necessary to meet the club's ambitions.
"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," the statement said.
The club described Carrick as a Manchester United legend and praised his dedication and professionalism throughout his managerial tenure.
It also acknowledged his achievements during the previous season, when he guided United to a third-place Premier League finish and secured qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
United confirmed that it intended to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible.
The decision followed an internal review led by director of football Jason Wilcox, with club co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe involved in discussions over Carrick's future.
๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ
Carrick's dismissal came after a prolonged run of disappointing results that left United struggling near the bottom of the league table.
The team managed just one victory in its first 10 Premier League fixtures and endured a nine-match winless sequence.
A 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth intensified pressure on Carrick, while subsequent performances failed to produce the turnaround demanded by the club's hierarchy.
United also suffered a 2-0 defeat against Chelsea before salvaging a point against Aston Villa.
Defensive weaknesses were a major concern, with the team conceding 19 goals in its opening 10 league matches and 30 across all competitions.
Despite an encouraging comeback victory against Roma in the Champions League, the improvement was insufficient to secure Carrick's position.
The club also sits 17th in the Champions League league-phase standings, adding to concerns over its performances in domestic and European competitions.
๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ
Carrick initially took charge on an interim basis in January following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim.
His appointment brought an immediate improvement in results, including victories against Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur.
United subsequently climbed the Premier League table, finishing third and returning to the Champions League.
The impressive turnaround earned Carrick a permanent appointment in May, with a contract running until 2028.
However, the momentum failed to carry into the new campaign.
Despite spending heavily during the summer transfer window, United struggled with defensive vulnerabilities, inconsistent performances and questions over tactical organisation.
Senior players, including captain Bruno Fernandes and defender Lisandro Martinez, publicly raised concerns about aspects of the team's performances and preparations.
Carrick maintained that there was no division between the players and coaching staff, but the continuing poor results increased scrutiny of his position.
๐๐จ๐๐ก๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐จ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐๐
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Carrick.
The Argentine, currently in charge of the United States men's national team, has reportedly reached a preliminary agreement with Manchester United.
However, his appointment has not yet been officially confirmed.
Pochettino's existing contract reportedly includes a release clause of approximately $10 million, with additional compensation potentially required for his coaching staff.
Former Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe and former Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann have also been linked with the position.
United's next Premier League fixture is against Liverpool at Anfield on November 22, following the international break.
The club will hope to finalise its managerial appointment before the high-profile encounter as it seeks to arrest its decline and move away from the relegation zone.
Carrick's departure represents another managerial change at Old Trafford, highlighting the continuing difficulties faced by Manchester United in establishing sustained success following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.