Manchester United sack Michael Carrick as manager

What the report says

Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick as men’s first-team head coach, with Al Jazeera reporting that the club announced the decision on Thursday amid a severe dip in form. The move came after United fell to 18th in the Premier League table, in the relegation zone, following a run that has left them with eight points from 10 league matches.

According to the report, Carrick’s final match ended in a late draw with Aston Villa at Old Trafford, but that result was not enough to ease pressure on the club. United have won just three times in 15 games across all competitions this season, with only one league victory and an early exit from the English League Cup. The team has also had a mixed start in the Champions League.

The club said it would appoint a permanent successor as soon as possible and described the decision as a difficult one taken to protect its ambitions. The article says Carrick, a former United midfielder and club captain, had been appointed on an interim basis in January and had previously helped stabilise the team last season, when they finished third and qualified for the Champions League.

Al Jazeera also reported that several names have been linked to the role, including Mauricio Pochettino, Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte. The coaching change is expected during the international break, with United due to face Liverpool on November 22.