Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick as head coach following a disastrous run of results that has left the Premier League giants in the relegation zone, with former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino reportedly poised to take over.
The decision to dismiss Carrick was announced on Thursday after United managed only one win in their opening 10 league matches, recording their worst start to a top-flight campaign in four decades.
Although the club is yet to formally name his replacement, CNN Sports reports that Pochettino, currently in charge of the United States men's national team, has reached a verbal agreement with Manchester United.
The club said it would move swiftly to appoint a permanent successor.
In a statement, United said the decision to part ways with Carrick followed a disappointing start to the season and the need to change direction to achieve its objectives.
“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,” the statement read.
Despite his dismissal, the club acknowledged Carrick's contribution, describing him as a legend whose commitment and professionalism were never in doubt.
Carrick returned to Old Trafford in January as interim manager and initially enjoyed considerable success, helping the team recover from its struggles towards the end of last season.
His impressive performance convinced the club's hierarchy to hand him the substantive position in May, on a two-year contract.
However, the momentum did not last, as United struggled to find consistency this season, winning just once in 10 Premier League outings and dropping to 18th place.
The poor results also heightened tensions around the club, with captain Bruno Fernandes making public outbursts and supporters increasingly expressing their dissatisfaction with the players.
Carrick's exit makes him the seventh permanent manager to leave Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
His departure had been widely anticipated, with reports suggesting that senior club officials were scheduled to meet in Monaco on Wednesday to take a final decision on his future.
Interestingly, Carrick continued to conduct training sessions even as speculation intensified over the identity of his likely successor.
Pochettino's proposed appointment, however, may depend on the conclusion of discussions involving United, the Argentine and US Soccer.
The United States are scheduled to play Haiti on Saturday and Tuesday, with Pochettino expected to remain with the national team for both fixtures before any possible switch to England.
Why United want Pochettino
Pochettino, 54, is regarded as an experienced manager with a strong record of rebuilding teams and developing young footballers.
The Argentine enjoyed a respectable playing career, featuring for Spanish club Espanyol and French side Paris Saint-Germain, while also representing his country at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
He began his coaching career at Espanyol but gained wider recognition in England during his spell at Southampton.
His work at the south coast club earned him the Tottenham Hotspur job in 2014, where he built a competitive side that challenged for major honours.
His biggest achievement with Tottenham was leading the club to the 2019 UEFA Champions League final, where they lost to Liverpool.
Pochettino became known for his high-intensity attacking football, ability to nurture emerging talents and uncompromising management style.
After leaving Tottenham, he had spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea before being appointed head coach of the United States in 2024.
His tenure with the American national team initially required a period of adjustment, but the side has since shown encouraging progress under his leadership.
Pochettino had previously been considered for the Manchester United job, although an agreement between both parties failed to materialise.
With Carrick now gone, the Argentine appears closer than ever to taking charge at Old Trafford, where he would face the daunting task of reviving a struggling team and restoring the club's reputation as one of Europe's leading football institutions.
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