Manchester United are closing in on their latest managerial change after a dreadful start to the Premier League season that leaves the 20-time English champions in the relegation zone.
Michael Carrick oversaw a rapid upturn in fortunes when he replaced Ruben Amorim midway through the 2025/26 campaign, leading a United side without the burden of European or domestic knockout cup football to a third-place finish.
That resurgence has fallen apart dramatically this term, with a solitary win over Ipswich Town in 10 Premier League matches, a Carabao Cup exit against Brighton and damaging Champions League defeats to Atletico Madrid and Como amounting to a grim body of work.
Now the deeply unpopular triumvirate of co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox appeared to have settled upon Carrick’s successor.
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Have Man United sacked Michael Carrick? Latest news
As of Wednesday, November 11, Michael Carrick remains Manchester United manager and took training at the club’s Carrington training base with those players who have not been called up for international duty.
The Athletic, among others, reported that Berrarda and Wilcox flew to Monaco for meetings with Ratcliffe to discuss Carrick’s future on Tuesday.
Confirmation of the former United and England midfield’s departure is expected to be confirmed on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning, UK time.
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Is Mauricio Pochettino leaving USMNT for Man United job?
USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino has now emerged as the clear frontrunner to take charge of United. U.S. Soccer would be entitled to compensation in the region of $10m for the former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain coach, who signed an extended contract through to the 2030 World Cup after leading the USA to the Round of 16 on home soil this summer.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, United spent Tuesday finalising personal terms with Pochettino’s representatives.
The Premier League club is yet to reach out to U.S. Soccer over the required compensation package, but it is understood Pochettino has kept his employers in the loop. Further compensation would be required to bring Pochettino’s staff, including his long-time assistant Jesus Perez, to Manchester.
The negotiations taking place duirng the international break potentially add another layer of complication, with the USMNT set to play two games against Haiti on November 14 and 18. Pochettino is due to address the media at a press conference on Friday before the first of those matches.
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Man United’s next match for new manager
It seems United have once again decided the international break is an opportune time to appoint a new head coach, as was the case when they installed Ruben Amorim in November 2024.
European club football takes a hiatus during international games, something that was admittedly more relevant to then Sporting CP boss Amorim than it is to USMNT manager Pochettino.
Regardless of who is in charge, United’s next match is a daunting trip to face bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield on November 22.
There’s then a flight to Lisbon to face Sporting in the Champions League three days later before Brentford visit Old Trafford on November 28 for what now looks likely to be Pochettino’s first home game in charge of United.
