Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick with the club 18th in the Premier League and a single league win this season. Mauricio Pochettino, the United States coach, reportedly agreed terms in principle and is expected to be in charge at Liverpool on 22 November.
Manchester, England: Michael Carrick’s time as Manchester United head coach ended on Thursday, 12 November, after a start to the season that left the club in the bottom three. He took over in January as interim head coach, steered United back into the Champions League and was handed the job permanently in the summer. The sacking comes four days after a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa.
A season that came apart
United have won once in the league this season and sit 18th, their worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1986/87. They have conceded 30 goals in all competitions. Carrick survived the 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth on 25 October, when the club offered no immediate verdict on his future, and Sunday’s 4-4 draw with Villa came after United twice recovered from two goals down. It was not enough to save him.
Pochettino in the frame
Reports from Sky Sports and the BBC said that United had reached a verbal agreement in principle with Pochettino, 54, who has coached the United States since September 2024, and that the change of manager was linked to Carrick going first. The details were still being finalised, including a release fee of around £7 million to US Soccer and the terms for his backroom staff. Pochettino was reported as likely to stay with the Americans for their two matches against Haiti during the international break. At the time of writing, no appointment had been announced by United.
Liverpool awaits
The timing is tight. United travel to Anfield on Sunday, 22 November, and the majority of their players are not due back from international duty until next Thursday, so whoever takes charge will have little time with the full squad before the trip.
Key facts: Michael Carrick sacked as Manchester United head coach, 12 November 2026. Premier League position: 18th. Last match: Manchester United 4-4 Aston Villa. Reported successor: Mauricio Pochettino (not yet announced). Next match: Liverpool v Manchester United, Anfield, 22 November.
