Manchester United fans, it may be time for two minutes’ silence: Michael Carrick’s reign at Old Trafford looks to be all but over. The club is ready to sack the 45-year-old with the team in the Premier League relegation zone, and Mauricio Pochettino is now the favourite to replace him, ESPN reports, citing sources.
It is a stunning fall for a man who was hailed as United’s saviour less than a year ago.
From saviour to the sack in ten months
Carrick took over as interim manager in January and guided United to Champions League qualification, earning a two-year contract in the summer. His only previous managerial experience was with Championship side Middlesbrough.
This season has been a disaster. United have won just once in ten league games, their worst start to a league season ever, according to ESPN, and they sit one point above the bottom of the table. Since Carrick survived a review of his position last month, they have won only one of four games.
United’s hierarchy, including co-chairman Joel Glazer, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, are assessing his future, and ESPN’s sources say there is now acceptance that a change is needed.
The Bruno Fernandes bust-up
The cracks have been visible on the pitch and in the dressing room. Captain Bruno Fernandes publicly criticised Carrick’s tactics after a 4-1 defeat to Como last month, and Carrick dropped him for the following game against Bournemouth, which United lost 3-0, ESPN reported.
Fernandes kept the captaincy and later said Carrick had been right to drop him, after inspiring a 3-2 Champions League comeback win over Roma. But he also rejected the idea that the Roma win would save his manager’s job, ESPN reported.
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Big push for Pochettino
Pochettino, 54, is United’s top target. He led the United States to the round of 16 at this summer’s World Cup and extended his US Soccer contract to 2030 in August. United would reportedly have to pay a $10 million (about €8.6 million) release clause to prise him away.
The Argentine has interviewed for the United job three times before, and his Premier League experience with Spurs, Southampton and Chelsea is seen as exactly what the club needs. Newcastle’s Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann and Kieran McKenna have also been mentioned as options.
What happens next
Talks are expected to continue over the coming days. United are next in action against Liverpool at Anfield on 22 November, and the international break gives the club a window to make a change before then.
If Pochettino arrives, he will be United’s latest attempt to find a long-term successor to Sir Alex Ferguson. If Carrick somehow survives, Anfield could decide his fate.
Sources
- ESPN: Man United turn to Pochettino with Carrick on the brink (9 November 2026)
- ESPN: Bruno Fernandes – Carrick was right to drop me
- ESPN: Bruno Fernandes retains Man United captaincy
Featured image: Old Trafford by Arne Müseler, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons.
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