Manchester United sack Michael Carrick after Aston Villa draw

Manchester United have dismissed manager Michael Carrick after an extended winless run ended with a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa at Old Trafford last weekend.

The result left United 18th in the Premier League, with eight points from 10 matches and only one point separating them from the bottom of the table.

Carrick’s side had won just three of their 15 matches in all competitions this season, including only one league game.

“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,” United said in a statement on their website.

The 45-year-old came under increasing pressure following a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth. Although supporters chanted his name, the United players were booed from the pitch after the match, leaving Carrick appearing to face an uncertain future.

He had left captain Bruno Fernandes on the bench against Bournemouth and did not introduce him, even as United struggled to create opportunities in midfield. Carrick was given another chance to change the team’s fortunes, however.

Fernandes returned to the starting XI for the visit to Chelsea after talks intended to clear the air, and Carrick said his players were determined to respond. United were nevertheless outplayed in a 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.

A 3-2 Champions League comeback against AS Roma provided brief relief, but defensive weaknesses resurfaced against Aston Villa. United required two goals in added time to rescue a point in the 4-4 draw.

Carrick initially took charge on an interim basis after Ruben Amorim was sacked in January. Following a marked improvement in results, he was awarded a contract running until 2028.

United won 11 of their first 16 matches under the former midfielder, beating Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea during a run that lifted them to third in the Premier League and secured Champions League qualification.

That momentum did not continue into the new campaign. United’s only wins came against promoted Ipswich Town and Champions League debutants Sabah FK before the club began a nine-match run without victory.

The club thanked Carrick for his professional conduct during his time as manager and said it was working to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible.

He becomes the latest United manager to lose his job after David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag and Amorim.

British media reports say Mauricio Pochettino is likely to replace Carrick and has agreed to take charge of the vacant position. The former Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager is currently coach of the US men’s national team.

United’s first match after the international break is a difficult trip to Anfield to play rivals Liverpool.