Manchester United Sack Michael Carrick After Disappointing Start to the Season

Last season Michael Carrick pulled Manchester United out of a slump and took them back into the Champions League. As a reward for that success he was given the permanent coach's job. But everything changed at the start of the new season. Failure after failure in the Premier League has dropped the English giants into the relegation zone, and in the end Carrick has lost his job.

Manchester United confirmed in a statement on Thursday (12 November) that the 45-year-old Carrick had been removed from the head coach's role.

This season United have won only one of their first 10 Premier League matches. With five draws and four defeats, they sit 18th in the table with 8 points. The team has gone eight league matches without a win. In these circumstances the club authorities decided to change the coach.

In a statement United said, 'Manchester United confirms that Michael Carrick has left his role as head coach of the men's first team.' The English club also explained why the decision had to be taken.

'After a disappointing start to the season we have reached the extremely difficult decision that change is needed to achieve our goals,' the club said.

Despite his failure as a coach, however, United remembered Carrick's contribution to the club's history with respect. 'Michael is a Manchester United legend and always will be. Just as he was as a player, he carried out his duties as a coach with the utmost dedication and professionalism,' the statement said.

The statement added, 'We will always remember his leadership and achievements last season with respect. The club plans to appoint a permanent successor as soon as possible.'

Carrick took charge of United as interim coach in January this year after Ruben Amorim was dismissed. The Old Trafford club was riddled with problems at the time. After taking over, the former England midfielder changed the team's performance.

United won 12 of the remaining 17 league matches of the 2025-26 season. In that period they earned more points than any other Premier League team. Under Carrick they finished the season third in the league, earning a return to the Champions League. Wins against strong opponents such as Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa encouraged the authorities to trust Carrick. In that continuity he was given the head coach's job permanently.

But Carrick could not maintain last season's success in the new season. Alongside defeats to Manchester City, Bournemouth and Chelsea, United also failed to beat Everton, Fulham, Tottenham, Leeds United and Aston Villa. Most recently, on Sunday, United drew 4-4 with Aston Villa in a dramatic match, coming back from two goals down late on to level. But despite taking a point, they could not avoid a record of eight league matches without a win.

The failure in domestic competition spread to the cup competitions as well. United were eliminated from the Carabao Cup in the third round, losing to Brighton. In the Champions League they also lost to Atletico Madrid and Como. They did, however, fight back dramatically to beat Roma 3-2 in European competition. That success brought some relief but was not enough to save Carrick's job.

Alongside the failure on the pitch, reports of discontent inside the club also surfaced. Defender Lisandro Martinez publicly criticised the club's player recruitment policy. Captain Bruno Fernandes, meanwhile, expressed dissatisfaction with the coach's tactics after the defeat to Como. Bruno was then left out of the starting eleven for the match against Bournemouth. Even in these circumstances Carrick kept claiming there was unity in the team; but the results on the pitch did not speak for him.

Carrick, who played for United from 2006 to 2018, is one of the most successful footballers in the club's history. His experience as a player, deep understanding of the club's culture and attention to young footballers were given importance by the authorities when appointing him as coach. After returning to the Champions League following a long absence, the match pressure on United had also increased; amid that pressure he could not produce consistent performances. Manchester United are now set to begin the search for a new coach during the international football break. But the club has not yet officially announced who his successor will be. With Carrick's departure, the wait for a new coach has begun again at Old Trafford.