Manchester United sack Michael Carrick as managerial costs under Ineos top £50m

Manchester United have dismissed manager Michael Carrick after their worst domestic start in four decades left them in the Premier League relegation zone.

The club announced the decision on Thursday, with former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino lined up as his replacement. United have contacted US Soccer about activating a $10m release clause, worth about R165.5m, in Pochettino’s contract as head coach of the United States national team.

Carrick was informed of the decision in person when he arrived at Carrington. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox had agreed the move with the Glazer family during crisis talks in Monaco.

The former Manchester United player had won only one of his 10 Premier League matches since being given the permanent job in May. Late comebacks against Roma and Aston Villa were not enough to preserve his position.

“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,” Manchester United said.

The club added that it intended to appoint Carrick’s successor “as quickly as possible”.

Pochettino is expected to remain in charge of the United States for their two Concacaf Nations League matches against Haiti on Saturday and Tuesday. He would then take over at Manchester United before an away match against Liverpool on November 22.

Rising cost of executive changes

Carrick’s departure also highlights the cost of changes made since Ineos assumed sporting control at Old Trafford. Ratcliffe has not yet been in charge for 1000 days, but the cost of managerial and executive decisions during his tenure has now passed £50m, about R1.1bn.

Analysis by The Independent and Football365 found that adding Carrick’s compensation and Pochettino’s release payment would take Manchester United’s spending on appointing and dismissing managers and sporting directors since Alex Ferguson’s departure to £108.2m, or about R2.39 billion.

That figure comes after the club cut more than 300 ordinary staff jobs over the past two years while pursuing significant financial reductions.

Manchester United retained Erik ten Hag after his 2024 FA Cup success, extended his contract and invested heavily during the summer, before dismissing him in October at a cost of £10.4m, about R229.5m.

The club also paid Newcastle £3m, around R66.2m, to appoint sporting director Dan Ashworth, who left four months later with a £4.1m, or about R90.5m, settlement.

Ruben Amorim was recruited from Sporting CP for £11m (R242.7m), but his tactical changes failed within 14 months. His initial dismissal cost was estimated at £15.9m in January, although Football365 reported that it fell to £8.2m, about R180.9m, after he joined AC Milan six months later. The combined cost was £19.2m (R423.6m).

Carrick initially brought stability and received a contract running until 2028 after leading Manchester United to third place last season. His exit is now expected to cost about £5m (R110.3m).

The Athletic reported that several million pounds could be added to Pochettino’s £7.5m release clause to compensate his backroom staff, taking the total closer to £9m, or about R198.6m.

Only three months ago, after signing a four-year extension with US Soccer through to the 2030 World Cup, Pochettino said: “Every time we sign a contract, it’s to go to the last day of the contract … We signed the contract because we really believe that we are going to be four years there.”

For supporters who have displayed banners reading “We don’t want a new stadium, we want new owners” at Old Trafford, Carrick’s dismissal represents another costly change as Manchester United battle against relegation.