Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick. Manchester United confirm Mauricio Pochettino as the club’s men’s head coach.
Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to become the club’s head coach from Wednesday. He takes over a side that is 18th in the Premier League.
Here is what the club has confirmed, what has been reported, and what the change means for United’s fixture list.
Why Manchester United Sacked Michael Carrick
United announced Carrick’s exit in a club statement yesterday, saying he had “departed his role as men’s first-team head coach”.
The club credited him with last season’s recovery: after rejoining in January, he won 12 of the remaining 17 games of 2025–26 to finish third. This season had gone too badly, though. The statement called a change “necessary in order to achieve our ambitions” and promised to appoint a permanent successor “as quickly as possible”.
Where United Stand in the Premier League Table
The official table shows how tight the bottom of the division is after 10 matches:
| Pos | Club | Played | W-D-L | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Fulham | 10 | 2-4-4 | 10 |
| 16 | Nottingham Forest | 10 | 2-3-5 | 9 |
| 17 | Coventry City | 10 | 3-0-7 | 9 |
| 18 | Manchester United | 10 | 1-5-4 | 8 |
| 19 | Sunderland | 10 | 2-2-6 | 8 |
| 20 | Crystal Palace | 10 | 2-1-7 | 7 |
The same table shows United have conceded 19 goals, the same as Coventry; only Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town have let in more.
Crystal Palace have also confirmed that Pierre Sage has left, with Thomas Frank reported to be in talks to replace him.
What United’s Statement Says About Pochettino
The club says it has reached an agreement with the U.S. Soccer Federation.
Manchester United confirm Mauricio Pochettino and his staff will be released once duties with the USA men’s team are over.
It also sets out his record. He began coaching at Espanyol in 2009, then set a club-record Premier League points tally with Southampton in 2014. At Tottenham Hotspur he qualified for the Champions League in four consecutive seasons and reached the 2019 final. He then won Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Trophée desk Champions with Paris Saint-Germain before joining Chelsea in 2023. Most recently, he took the USA to the round of 16 at the World Cup.
What Sky Sports Reports
Sky Sports fills in the contract terms the club left out: a two-and-a-half-year deal running to the summer of 2029. Sky puts the release clause in his USA contract at £7m.
How Carrick Was Told
ESPN reports that chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox told Carrick of the decision in a meeting at Carrington yesterday morning, after a meeting with minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco the day before.
Sky Sports adds that Jonny Evans, Jonathan Woodgate, Steve Holland, Travis Binnion and goalkeeping coach Craig Mawson have also left. United’s statement on Carrick does not mention the coaching staff.
When Pochettino Takes Charge
United’s statement does not say which USA games those duties cover. Sky Sports reports that he will take charge of both of the USA’s games against Haiti, which US Soccer’s schedule puts in Miami tomorrow and in Cincinnati on Tuesday. Sky adds that he will fly to Manchester on Wednesday, the day he starts, and take his first training session on Thursday.
United’s next three Premier League fixtures, from the official fixture list:
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday 22 November | Liverpool v Manchester United | 16:30 |
| Saturday 28 November | Manchester United v Brentford | 15:00 |
| Wednesday 2 December | Newcastle United v Manchester United | 20:15 |
That makes the trip to Anfield his first game in charge.
What It Means for United
Pochettino will get only a few days on the training ground before facing Liverpool, fourth in the official table.
The table above explains the urgency. Two points cover 15th to 18th, so these three games could lift United into mid-table or leave them stuck in the bottom three. His first job is the defense.
The Bottom Line
United named Carrick’s successor the day after sacking him. Their statement praises Pochettino for building strong, cohesive teams and for developing individual players. He will need to show both quickly, with the three fixtures above to come and United in the bottom three.
FAQ
Is Pochettino’s move to Manchester United official?
Yes. The club confirmed it today in the statement linked above.
Will Pochettino still lead the USA against Haiti?
Sky Sports reports that he will. United’s statement says only that he and his staff will be released once their USA duties are over.
How long is Pochettino’s contract?
United have not said. As noted above, Sky Sports reports that it runs to the summer of 2029.
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