Manchester United sack manager Michael Carrick

Manchester United have sacked head coach Michael Carrick, after just 15 competitive matches in charge.

This makes him the third manager dismissed by the club in three seasons.

In May Carrick signed a contract to stay at Old Trafford until 2028, with an option to extend this for another year.

But United said it had come to the decision to remove him "after a disappointing start to the season" leading the club to reach the "extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions".

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Since the beginning of the Premier league season United's performance has been disappointing, described by many as their worst start in 40 years.

The season-opening match against Hull City, a team who had been promoted to the Premier League after nine years in teh lower leagues, ended in a 2-0 defeat to Hull.

This was followed by a series of up and down results, with just one win in 10 Premier League games.

The decision for Carrick's time as boss to end comes after their 4-4 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday.

The result left United sitting in the Premier League relegation zone, where teams can end up in the second division if they don't climb out of it by the end of the season.

The 45-year-old has had a long history at the club, becoming a five-time Premier League champion as a player at Old Trafford.

He later took charge as head coach for a three-match stint in 2021, following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's exit, then rejoined the club in the same job in January this year.

Over the remainder of the 2025-26 season, he helped the team finish third in Premier League, by winning 12 of the remaining 17 games.

In a statement the club said: "Michael is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend. Just as he did as a player, he has conducted himself with the highest standards of dedication and professionalism throughout his time back with the club.

"His leadership and achievements last season will always be fondly remembered."

The club has said it intends to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible.

Many people expect this to be former Tottenham and Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, coach of the USA national team.

This isn't the first name Pochettino's name has been mentioned when it comes to Man United.

He was rumoured to be in the running to take over as boss when Louis van Gaal was sacked by United in May 2016, and again when Jose Mourinho suffered the same fate in December 2018. But so far nothing has been confirmed.

BBC Sport say the move to replace Michael Carrick with Pochettino as Manchester United manager is "being finalised".