Manchester United have parted ways with manager Michael Carrick, ending his tenure at Old Trafford after one of the club's worst starts to a league season in four decades.
Carrick, 45, had been handed the permanent managerial role in the summer following a brief but encouraging return as interim boss at the end of last season — itself coming after the club dismissed Ruben Amorim. However, with United managing just three wins all season, the board moved to remove him during the international break.
The moment that sealed his fate
The turning point appeared to arrive in Italy, where United were beaten 4-1 by Como in the UEFA Champions League league phase — a chastening defeat against a side only recently promoted into European competition. Carrick survived that result for a short period, but the axe fell as the international break offered the club a window to act.
Carrick's association with Manchester United stretches back years. He initially joined the coaching staff under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, first on an interim basis before continuing when Solskjaer was confirmed as permanent manager in March 2019. When Solskjaer was dismissed, Carrick stepped in as caretaker, winning two matches before Ralf Rangnick arrived to see out the 2022/23 campaign.
Carrick came back in January of this year to steer the club through the remainder of last season, winning his first two matches in charge — against Manchester City and Arsenal — and guiding United to third in the Premier League table. That form earned him a nomination for Premier League Manager of the Season.
A summer rebuild that never clicked
In May, Carrick signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until 2028. A summer overhaul followed, but the Red Devils have struggled badly in the new campaign. This represents United's worst Premier League start in 40 years, with the club recording just a single league win — at home to Ipswich Town.
United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the opening round by Brighton & Hove Albion, and sit 17th in the Champions League's league phase after back-to-back defeats. Injury problems have further complicated matters, with Benjamin Sesko confirmed out until February.
Tensions within the squad surfaced publicly last week. After a defeat in Madrid in the Champions League, defender Lisandro Martinez directed criticism at director Jason Wilcox over the club's failure to strengthen adequately in the transfer window. The following evening, Bruno Fernandes distanced himself from United's tactical approach, describing the gameplan as
