Manchester United sack manager Michael Carrick

Manchester United have parted company with head coach Michael Carrick.

The former midfielder has left after 16 matches in the permanent role, not counting preseason friendlies, and one win in the club’s last 11 games.

CEO Omar Berrada informed Carrick of the decision to remove him at Carrington on Thursday morning with his staff — including Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans — also exiting and leaving the training ground shortly after.

United confirmed the news in a statement, calling it an “extremely difficult conclusion” and thanking their former player for his time and efforts in charge.

“Michael is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend,” it read. “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.”

United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino has quickly emerged as the chosen candidate to replace him, with United finalising a deal for the former Tottenham Hotspur boss before making formal contact with U.S. Soccer.

Reports emerged on Monday that, following Sunday’s 4-4 draw with Aston Villa that left United 18th and in the Premier League’s relegation zone, the expectation was a change would be made before the trip to face Liverpool at Anfield after the international break.

Carrick took training on Tuesday and Wednesday as normal but after discussions between the club’s hierarchy in Monaco the decision was reached, with final approval required from co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the club’s majority owners, the Glazer family.

Pochettino, who is with the USMNT ahead of Concacaf Nations League quarter-final games against Haiti over the next week, has long desired to manage United, after previous spells in England with Tottenham, Chelsea and Southampton.

U.S. Soccer would require the Argentinian’s buyout which is in the ballpark of $10million (£7.4m), is paid to release him from his contract which has him tied down through the 2030 World Cup. His current staff, including longtime assistant Jesus Perez, are set to follow him to Manchester.

United are the only Premier League team who have not won at least two league games this term, with their only victory in the division the 5-2 win at home to Ipswich Town.

They are without a win in eight league matches, while last week’s victory over Roma was United’s only win in their last 11 outings across all competitions.

Carrick’s position had appeared under serious threat following last month’s 3-0 loss to Bournemouth in the Premier League, which came just four days after a 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League.

Following talks between the club’s senior leadership figures it was confirmed the decision had been made to give Carrick and the players more time to turn United’s fortunes around. That time amounted to just three more games, however, with the former midfielder’s short-lived period in the permanent role now over.

United were without Bruno Fernandes for the Bournemouth defeat, as Carrick dropped the club captain from the starting line-up for “purely sporting reasons” and did not bring him off the bench at Old Trafford.

The decision came after Fernandes appeared to question his team’s tactics following the defeat to Como, a week after defender Lisandro Martinez criticised the investment in the squad and director of football Jason Wilcox in an angry post-match interview. Fernandes returned to the starting lineup against Chelsea, a game United lost 2-0 and played the final 30 minutes with 10 players after Martinez was sent off.

Carrick was appointed United’s permanent head coach on a two-year contract in May following a successful period in interim charge, having replaced Ruben Amorim in January.

The 45-year-old’s interim spell began with United seventh in the Premier League, but he oversaw a marked improvement in form, with United taking 39 points from their remaining 17 games and finishing third.

No other club picked up more league points last season following Carrick’s appointment, with United’s run including victories over Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.

That run of domestic form has not continued into the current campaign, however, with United winning just one of their opening 10 Premier League games, and being eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Brighton & Hove Albion.

United returned to the Champions League this season and began their campaign with 4-0 win over Sabah, before a 2-0 loss at Atletico Madrid and the defeat at Como. After the loss in Italy, Carrick apologised to the club’s fans, describing the performance as “tough to watch”. He opened his press conference the following Friday with a passionate five-and-a-half-minute monologue where he committed to putting things right.

Carrick made 464 appearances and won five Premier League titles in 12 years at United as a player, while he also held a temporary head coach role following the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November 2021, winning twice and drawing once in that time.

United have had six permanent managers since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and have finished no higher than second in that time, achieved by Jose Mourinho (2017-18) and Solskjaer (2020-21). The club have spent more than £50m on removing managers since Ferguson left the role.