Manchester United is expected to dismiss manager Michael Carrick following a difficult start to the current football season, according to a report by David Ornstein, Adam Crafton, and Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic.
Managerial Replacement Plans
While the club insists that no formal decision has been finalized, multiple anonymous sources indicate that preparations for potential successors are underway. The expectation within the organization is that a managerial change will occur before the upcoming match against Liverpool at Anfield in 13 days.
Reports from Paul Tenorio, Tom Bogert, and Henry Bushnell of The Athletic indicate that United States men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino is considered a candidate for the position. However, securing his services would require the club to trigger a $10 million buyout clause. Additionally, Ornstein, Crafton, and Whitwell report that Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann also have admirers within the club.
Recent Performance and History
Carrick, 45, initially took over from Ruben Amorim as interim manager in January before receiving the permanent position in May. His appointment followed a successful run of 11 victories in 16 matches that secured a third-place Premier League finish and qualification for the Champions League.
However, the 2026-27 campaign has proven disastrous for the team, with Manchester United currently positioned 18th in the league standings, having accumulated only eight points from their first 10 fixtures.
The club has experienced frequent managerial turnover since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, employing 11 different permanent or caretaker managers. During this period, the team has not claimed a Premier League title amid the unpopular ownership of the Glazer family, while Jim Ratcliffe’s leadership of football operations has yet to yield promising results.
Frequent changes in leadership, inconsistent roster construction strategies, and ongoing internal dysfunction have contributed to the team lagging significantly behind domestic rivals such as Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City over the last two decades. The incoming manager will inherit these systemic challenges as they attempt to reverse the team’s fortunes.
