Manchester United have officially dismissed head coach Michael Carrick, the club said, with a new appointment expected soon ahead of the 22 November trip to Liverpool. The decision follows a poor start in which United have taken only eight points from 10 Premier League games and sit 18th, after defeats to Bournemouth (0:3) and Chelsea (0:2) and a 4:4 draw with Aston Villa in which they recovered through two stoppage-time goals. Carrick took over as interim manager in January, won 12 of 17 matches, led the club to the Champions League and signed a permanent deal until summer 2028 in May.
Key Takeaways: Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick after a poor start to the season; the team has 8 points from 10 Premier League games and sits 18th. Carrick had won 12 of 17 matches as interim, led the club to the Champions League and signed a deal until 2028. United next face Liverpool at Anfield on 22 November.
The decision marks the third managerial dismissal in two years at Old Trafford and raises fresh questions about the club’s planning and communication. Erik ten Hag was dismissed on 28 October 2024 and Ruben Amorim on 5 January 2026; Carrick then took charge on an interim basis. His initial impact was strong: results improved, United returned to the Champions League, and he was given a permanent contract in May. But the new campaign has revived old problems, with inconsistent performances, heavy defeats and dropped points increasing pressure on the club hierarchy.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, United’s leadership had decided to dismiss Carrick by Monday morning but did not inform him immediately. He continued working at Carrington and took training until Thursday; after the squad went on a break, he still reported to the training base, where chief executive Omar Berrada and football operations director Jason Wilcox told him face to face. BBC journalist Sami Mokbel reported that the final decision was taken at an Ineos leadership meeting in Monaco. Ornstein said the trip had been planned in advance and that Jim Ratcliffe instructed his subordinates to be there.
The handling of the dismissal has drawn scrutiny. Ornstein argued that the club should have spoken to Carrick personally ‘at least out of respect.’ talkSPORT’s Alex Crook claimed that as of Wednesday Carrick was still unaware of his dismissal, while some sources were already circulating reports of an agreement with Mauricio Pochettino. The Athletic’s Andy Mitten clarified that Berrada wanted to deliver the news in person rather than by phone; Crook also said players were aware of who the next coach was likely to be.
United have not officially confirmed a successor. The club is expected to announce an interim or permanent appointment in the coming days, with the trip to Liverpool on 22 November looming as an immediate test. The fixture is likely to intensify debate over the club’s recruitment, managerial strategy and the authority of its football leadership, while supporters wait for clarity on the direction of the season.
Source: kun.uz