Michael Carrick sacked by Manchester United: 12 wins in his first 17 games, three in his last 15

Highlights

• Manchester United sacked head coach Michael Carrick on Thursday 12 November, with the club in the Premier League relegation zone after one win in 10 league games
• He led United to third place and the Champions League as interim head coach last season, winning 12 of 17 games, then signed a two-year deal in May
• Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the United States, has reportedly agreed verbally to take over, with a release clause of about £7 million
• Carrick is the seventh United manager to be dismissed since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013

Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick, ending a reign that began with 12 wins in 17 games and ended with three in 15.

The 45-year-old left the club's Carrington training base shortly after 10.15am on Thursday, four days after a dramatic 4-4 draw with Aston Villa left United third from bottom of the Premier League.

Why did Manchester United sack Michael Carrick?

Results. United are in the relegation zone, a point behind 17th-placed Coventry, after winning one of their first 10 league games, the club's worst start to a season in 40 years, according to Sky Sports. They are also 17th in the Champions League league phase.

In a statement, the club said that after a "disappointing start to the season", it had reached the "extremely difficult conclusion" that a change was necessary to achieve its ambitions. It added that Carrick "is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend", and that his leadership and achievements last season "will always be fondly remembered".

The decline was quick. Carrick was given what reports described as a stay of execution on 26 October after defeats by Como and Bournemouth. The 4-1 Champions League loss at Como was followed by Bruno Fernandes openly challenging his strategy. Then came the Villa game, in which United fell 2-0 down inside four minutes, and 4-2 behind early in the second half, before salvaging a draw. Angry home fans directed their frustration at the club's ownership.

How did the decision to sack Carrick unfold?

It was made at a meeting in Monaco on Wednesday. The club's chief executive, Omar Berrada, and director of football, Jason Wilcox, recommended the dismissal to co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who approved it. It was later signed off at a board meeting involving the Glazer family, according to reports. Berrada and Wilcox were reported to have concluded on Monday that a change was needed, and there was frustration over the delay.

Carrick took training on Wednesday and turned up for work on Thursday morning, as he had each day that week. His assistants Jonny Evans and Jonathan Woodgate are also expected to leave.

Who will replace Michael Carrick at Manchester United?

Mauricio Pochettino, the former Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager who is head coach of the United States, has reportedly agreed verbally to take the job. United are expected to trigger a release clause in his new USA contract, reported as about £7 million. Pochettino is likely to stay in charge of the USA for two games, against Haiti, before starting at Old Trafford next Thursday, according to Sky Sports. United say they will appoint a permanent successor "as quickly as possible". Pochettino would be their eighth permanent manager since Ferguson.

The way Carrick has been dismissed has drawn anger, both outside the club and within parts of it, given his service as a player and coach.

Michael Carrick's Manchester United record in numbers

Carrick became head coach in January, after Amorim was sacked on 5 January following 14 months in charge. He won 12 of 17 games, finished third and was nominated for Premier League Manager of the Season. A new contract to 2028 followed on 22 May.

How did Michael Carrick's Manchester United reign unravel?

What are Manchester United's next fixtures?

Who is Michael Carrick?

Born in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, in 1981, Carrick made 464 appearances for United during a medal-laden career, and returned to the club as a coach. He was caretaker for three games in 2021, after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's departure, winning two and drawing one, and later managed Middlesbrough.

What have pundits and fans said?

Gary Neville said changing managers had been proven not to be the answer over 12 years. "It's rinse and repeat," he said, arguing that a weak performance department, recruitment and leadership will undermine any coach. Fans wrote that the problems lie higher up at the club.

Carrick is the second head coach United have sacked in one calendar year, after Amorim, a first for the club.