Manchester United had not announced any decision on Michael Carrick’s future by the end of 26 October, when chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox met at the Carrington training ground to discuss next steps after the 0-3 home defeat by Bournemouth on 25 October, according to Sky Sports and The Guardian. Carrick was at Carrington at the same time, watching the club’s under-21s play Hull City behind closed doors. Sky Sports reported that the first-team players are due back in training on Tuesday 27 October, but that it is uncertain whether Carrick will be in charge.
An awkward day at Carrington
Sky Sports’ Danyal Khan described a strange scene: Wilcox and Berrada arrived early in the morning and Carrick in the early afternoon, with the academy building where he watched the game at one end of the car park and the two executives discussing his future at the other. “As far as we know, no talks between Carrick and Wilcox happened,” Khan said, adding: “Carrick's future remains in huge doubt and there's no further clarity on whether he will continue or not.” A few players were in for treatment, including captain Bruno Fernandes, Patrick Dorgu, Manuel Ugarte and Benjamin Sesko.
The final call rests with a hierarchy that includes part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The Guardian said Wilcox’s view may carry more weight with Ratcliffe, who controls football policy at the club. Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett offered two reasons for the lack of swift action. “Probably the most likely is Man Utd's bosses are taking their time to consider who they want as a replacement,” he said. The other is Carrick’s popularity with supporters, which was obvious at Old Trafford, so the club, in Dorsett’s words, “want this done humanely and respectfully.”
Why Carrick is under pressure
The Bournemouth defeat stretched United’s winless run to eight games in all competitions. They have two wins all season and sit 16th in the Premier League on seven points, one point above the relegation zone (Sky Sports, The Guardian). Bóng Đá Plus said their last win came against Sabah in the Champions League on 10 September. Sky Sports called it the club’s worst start to a Premier League season.
The dressing room is tense too. Carrick dropped captain Bruno Fernandes for what he called “pure football reasons”, after the 32-year-old criticised his tactics following the 1-4 Champions League defeat at Como. Fernandes was an unused substitute and was booed, along with other players, by fans in the Stretford End. On 26 October he liked an Instagram post that read: “Never push a loyal person to the point where they no longer care.” (The Guardian)
It is a steep fall for a coach who was a hero only months ago. According to Sky Sports, Carrick took over in January 2026 on a deal to the end of the season after Ruben Amorim was sacked, won 12 of 17 matches to finish third and return to the Champions League, was nominated for Premier League Manager of the Season and signed a new contract to 2028 in May. Bóng Đá Plus reported that after the Bournemouth game he admitted his future was uncertain but said he wanted to carry on and took full responsibility.
The names in the frame
If Carrick goes, Eddie Howe is Wilcox’s preferred candidate, The Guardian reported: contact is understood to have been made, and the 48-year-old former Newcastle manager is open to the job, subject to negotiations. Howe would also be cheaper than Unai Emery, because Aston Villa would want around 20 million pounds in compensation. Julian Nagelsmann is highly regarded by recruitment director Christopher Vivell, who worked with him at RB Leipzig, and Antonio Conte, who left Napoli in the summer, may also be considered. Bóng Đá Plus carried similar reports on Howe, Nagelsmann and Conte.
The cost of another sacking
Dân trí reported that Carrick earns 6.5 million pounds a year on a two-year contract and that sacking him now would cost about 11.875 million pounds. He would become the 8th manager dismissed since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. Bóng Đá Plus gave the same 11.875 million figure, and both outlets put the total paid out to sacked managers since Ferguson at close to 97 million pounds if Carrick goes. Their figures for previous payouts:
| Manager | Compensation (million pounds) |
|---|---|
| David Moyes | 5.2 |
| Louis van Gaal | 8.4 |
| José Mourinho | 19.6 |
| Ole Gunnar Solskjær | 10 |
| Ralf Rangnick | 15 |
| Erik ten Hag | 17 |
| Ruben Amorim | 10 |
| Michael Carrick (if sacked) | 11.875 |
What’s next
The players are due back at Carrington on Tuesday 27 October (Sky Sports). According to Bóng Đá Plus, United’s next match is away to Chelsea on Saturday 31 October, a game it said could be decisive for Carrick if he is still in charge. For background, read Man Utd lose 0-3 to Bournemouth at Old Trafford with Bruno Fernandes on the bench and Michael Carrick’s future in doubt as Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are linked.