Manchester United Fires Michael Carrick

Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick as their head coach with the team in the Premier League’s relegation zone and lined up Mauricio Pochettino to take over.

Pochettino has a framework agreement to join a club who have one win from their past 11 matches. The USA head coach, a Premier League manager with Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea, has a release clause of about $10m (£7.5m). United will have to pay more to take his staff.

Carrick’s departure comes with United third from bottom of the Premier League, a point behind 17th-placed Coventry, and 17th in the Champions League standings. His exit follows a review led by the director of football, Jason Wilcox, and a recommendation to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who controls sporting policy. Wilcox and United’s CEO, Omar Berrada, travelled to Monaco to meet with Ratcliffe.

Carrick’s sacking was then signed off at a board meeting involving the Glazer family. Carrick turned up for work on Thursday morning – as he has done each day this week with his fate in effect sealed.

United said: “After a disappointing start to the season, the club has come to the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions. 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.”