Manchester United sack Michael Carrick after club’s worst start to Premier League season

Manchester United dismissed manager Michael Carrick in Manchester on Thursday, November 12, 2026, after the club endured its poorest opening to a Premier League season. The decision follows a sequence of results that left United in the relegation zone.

Carrick had been handed a two-year contract less than six months earlier with the task of restoring fortunes at the 20-time English champion. United has not won the league since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

A 4-4 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday (November 8) left Manchester United 18th in the 20-team standings and in the relegation zone after registering just one league win all season.

The club sit on eight points from 10 games, which United described as their worst start for 40 years — a period that predates the Premier League era.

“After a disappointing start to the season, the club has come to the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions,” United said.

United has been working on a potential deal to have Mauricio Pochettino replace Carrick, a source with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday (November 11). The 54-year-old Argentine is under contract with the U.S. team through the 2030 World Cup, and the person spoke on the condition of anonymity because no final decision had been made on Carrick's future.

United added the “club intends to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible.”