Manchester United sack Michael Carrick, line up Mauricio Pochettino

Manchester United have dismissed Michael Carrick as head coach and have identified Mauricio Pochettino as their preferred successor.

The club sit third from bottom of the Premier League, a point behind 17th‑placed Coventry, and are 17th in the Champions League table. Carrick’s departure follows a review led by director of football Jason Wilcox and a recommendation to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who oversees sporting policy.

Details of the proposed appointment

Pochettino, the former USA head coach and ex‑manager of Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea, has a framework agreement with United. His release clause is reported to be about $10 million (£7.5 million), and United will need to pay additional sums to secure his backroom staff.

United’s CEO Omar Berrada and Wilcox travelled to Monaco to meet Ratcliffe before the board, including the Glazer family, approved Carrick’s termination at a recent meeting.

Carrick, appointed in May on a contract to 2028 after an interim spell that secured Champions League qualification, recorded 12 wins and three draws in 17 games last season but has managed only three victories this campaign, against Ipswich, Sabah and Roma.

Before Pochettino, Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann were also considered for the role. Carrick becomes the second United head coach dismissed in a calendar year, following Ruben Amorim’s exit in January.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: nick hano / Pexels.