Michael Carrick’s position as Manchester United head coach is expected to be discussed by chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox at a pre-arranged meeting in Monaco on Wednesday.
The pair are expected to recommend that Carrick be sacked, although no decision has yet been made. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who bought a 28.94% stake in United for just over £1bn, will have the final say, subject to approval from the Glazer family.
United are 18th in the Premier League after winning only one of their first 10 matches and none since August. It is their lowest position at this stage of a top-flight season since 1986-87, when they were 20th.
On Christmas Eve 2023, Ratcliffe said: “Our shared ambition is clear: we all want to see Manchester United back where we belong, at the very top of English, European and world football.”
The Monaco meeting was scheduled as a regular strategy discussion between Ratcliffe and senior executives. His home is in the principality, where his company Ineos also has offices, and sources say the location was not chosen because of the debate over Carrick.
The meetings were previously held every six weeks but are now less frequent. They usually take place in the morning, last three to four hours and finish in time for Ratcliffe’s regular lunchtime jog.
United’s previous managerial sackings were not decided in Monaco. Erik ten Hag was dismissed after a six-hour meeting at Ineos’ London headquarters in 2024, having initially survived a summer decision to remove him after United won the FA Cup final against Manchester City. He left three weeks after surviving a further review.
Ruben Amorim was sacked 19 hours after a media conference following a 1-1 draw with Leeds in January. He had previously been summoned to Monaco after losing the 2025 Europa League final to Tottenham.
Why Carrick’s position is under threat
Carrick, who won 12 of 17 matches as interim boss, was handed a two-year contract in the summer. United backed him after a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth on 25 October, believing the November international break would provide a suitable point to assess the campaign.
Although they beat Roma 3-2 on 3 November after falling two goals behind, United then lost 2-0 to Chelsea after Lisandro Martinez was sent off. They conceded twice inside five minutes against Villa on Sunday and had to recover from two goals down twice to draw.
Berrada and Wilcox attended all three matches. While the comebacks suggested the players remained committed to Carrick, the defensive problems and chaotic performances are understood to have convinced them that a coaching change is needed.
United have conceded 30 goals in 15 matches: 19 in 10 Premier League games, eight in four Champions League fixtures and three in one Carabao Cup tie. Another option would be to retain Carrick and add coaching support, with Bayern Munich coach Aaron Danks, who worked with him at Middlesbrough, among those considered.
Possible replacements
Mauricio Pochettino is regarded as a leading candidate and is known to want the job. United have spoken to the former Tottenham, PSG and Chelsea manager three times, including after Jose Mourinho’s dismissal in 2018, in 2022 before appointing Ten Hag, and when Ten Hag left.
Pochettino is currently head coach of the United States. He renewed his contract in August and has a two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against Haiti over the next week. The 54-year-old has a $10m (£7.5m) release clause and is due to speak to the media on Friday.
Former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is available, with compensation of £3m payable now, reducing during the season and disappearing in the summer. Antonio Conte is also thought to be interested after winning Premier League and Serie A titles.
Other possibilities include Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann, who won the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich in 2022-23, and Kieran McKenna, although United are thought to prefer someone with greater experience.
Carrick is continuing to work while no decision has been communicated. Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford remain at the club during the international break. Training is scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before the squad reconvenes on 17 November for the trip to Liverpool on 22 November.
