Manchester United sacks Michael Carrick after disastrous start

OPA WIRE, Nov 12 (OPA) — Carrick arrived at United's Carrington training ground at 7.50 am and was dismissed by club executives less than two and a half hours later. The firing was ratified during a board meeting in Monaco on Wednesday, attended by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox, and the Glazer family via video link. Carrick's departure comes after a run of poor form that saw the team win only three matches this season and fail to keep a single clean sheet in the Premier League. Sunday's dramatic 4-4 draw with Aston Villa proved to be the final decisive factor for the club leadership.

United has made a formal approach to US Soccer to secure Pochettino, triggering a £7 million release clause for the 54-year-old Argentine manager. The compensation payout for coaching staff and executives under INEOS stewardship now approaches £30 million over the past three years. This ongoing turnover highlights recurring instability at the club, with Berrada and Wilcox now searching for their third permanent manager this year alone, having previously burned through Erik ten Hag, Ruben Amorim, and Carrick since February 2024.

Carrick initially took charge on an interim basis last season, guiding United to a third-place finish and a return to the Champions League. That strong run earned him a permanent two-year deal in May, but momentum vanished as internal friction mounted. Club captain Bruno Fernandes publicly questioned tactics, while defender Lisandro Martinez criticized the hierarchy for leaving players exposed. Carrick leaves with a record of 14 wins, six draws, and eight defeats across his tenure, concluding with a Carabao Cup exit against Brighton.

Pochettino faces an uphill battle to steady an underperforming squad that former United captain Gary Neville described as deeply unprofessional. United currently sits in the Premier League relegation zone, adding immense pressure on the incoming Argentine coach to reverse the club's fortunes immediately. The team returns to action under interim oversight while final terms on Pochettino's buyout and coaching staff appointments are finalized.