Manchester United Part Ways With Michael Carrick, Target USMNT Coach Mauricio Pochettino

Manchester United has officially dismissed head coach Michael Carrick after just 172 days in charge, completing the club's third mid-season managerial shift in three years under co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and initiating contact with U.S. Soccer for current USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino.

The development creates sudden turbulence for U.S. Soccer, with United executives formally reaching out to the federation to discuss Pochettino's employment. Carrick's departure comes 172 days after a 3-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion that capped a strong early run following his interim appointment in January. His final game in charge was a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa, which came shortly after he delivered a 20-minute address at an Old Trafford event celebrating 40 years since Sir Alex Ferguson's arrival at the club.

According to reported details, Carrick led training sessions across three days without direct communication from club leadership regarding his fate. Chief executive Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox, and data director Michael Sansoni attended an INEOS summit in Monaco mid-week before Ratcliffe and the Glazer family finalized the decision. Berrada subsequently informed Carrick of his dismissal face-to-face on Thursday morning at Carrington, ending his brief tenure.

What to watch next: U.S. Soccer must now respond to United's official inquiry, which will clarify whether Pochettino remains in charge of the national team or makes a swift return to European club soccer.