Manchester United have sacked head coach Michael Carrick after about ten months in charge, ending a short spell that began with promise and ended with the club close to the Premier League relegation places. The news was first reported by The Telegraph, according to The Times of India, and The Guardian and The National have also reported the sacking, with Mauricio Pochettino poised to succeed him.
What happened
Carrick, who is 45, continued to take training on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday morning, 12 November 2026, he arrived at the Carrington training ground and was told of the decision. The Times of India reports that the sacking was approved at a meeting in Monaco on Wednesday involving co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox. It had reportedly become clear late on Monday that Carrick would leave.
United's hierarchy spent the next days working on a deal for Pochettino, the former Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager, who is at present in charge of the United States national team. We have not seen an official club statement in the sources we read, so the Pochettino appointment should be treated as expected rather than confirmed.
The numbers behind the decision
Carrick was appointed in May on a contract running until 2028, after a successful spell as interim manager last season. In 17 matches then he won 12 and drew three, and guided United to Champions League qualification.
This season has been very different. According to The Times of India, United have won only three games in all competitions: against Ipswich, Sabah and Roma. Last Sunday they came back from two goals down to draw 4-4 with Aston Villa. The club sit third from the bottom of the Premier League, one point behind 17th-placed Coventry, and are 17th in the Champions League standings.
There was also friction around the squad. Bruno Fernandes questioned Carrick's tactics after a 4-1 Champions League defeat against Como, and Martinez criticised Wilcox, the report says.
A historic low
Since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013, United have appointed eight managers, counting interim spells such as Ralf Rangnick's five months. Carrick is the second head coach sacked this calendar year, after Ruben Amorim was dismissed in January. The Times of India notes that this is the first time in the club's history that two head coaches have been removed within one calendar year.
What it means for fans in India
United have a large following in India, and many fans will watch the next match closely. The team's results have slipped into territory few supporters expected at the start of the season, so a new manager is likely to face pressure from his first game. Pochettino has worked at Tottenham, Chelsea and PSG, but taking over a side so low in the table mid-season will be a different test from his earlier jobs.
What happens next
The next step is the formal announcement of Pochettino as head coach, along with the date he will take charge. He is still working with the US national team, so the timing of his release and the dates of the next fixtures will decide who is on the touchline for United's next game. Fans should watch the club's official channels for confirmation.
United's league position means the pressure is immediate. Fixtures in both the Premier League and the Champions League come thick over the winter, and a run of poor results could leave the club in a relegation fight, a prospect that looked unimaginable only a year ago.
