Michael Carrick and Pierre Sage sacked in first Premier League dismissals of season

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has been sacked.

The former England midfielder was appointed on an interim basis in January 2026 and signed a permanent contract after the club secured a third-place finish in the Premier League last year.

But United have struggled to find form this season, with the team winning just three of their first 15 games across all competitions.

Carrick becomes the seventh manager to be dismissed by the club since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

He became the first of two Premier League managers to be sacked on Thursday, with the departure of Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage confirmed just hours later.

The Frenchman was relieved of his duties after just five months at Selhurst Park, with the club sitting at the bottom of the league.

Palace said it "would like to place on record its thanks to Pierre and his staff for their efforts during their time in South London, and wish them well for the future".

United reportedly reached an agreement in principle on Wednesday for Mauricio Pochettino to be their next head coach.

Carrick's sacking follows Sunday's 4-4 draw with Aston Villa at Old Trafford - a result that leaves them 18th in the league table, with eight points from 10 league matches, their worst return at this stage of a season since the 1972-73 campaign.

The decision was made following a meeting between United's director of football Jason Wilcox, chief executive Omar Berrada, and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco on Wednesday.

The club intends to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible, a spokesperson said.

The club confirmed: "Michael rejoined the club in January and guided the team to a third-placed Premier League finish by winning 12 out of the remaining 17 games of the 2025/26 season, accumulating the highest points tally in the league during that period.

"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."

The statement added: "Michael is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend.

"Just as he did as a player, he has conducted himself with the highest standards of dedication and professionalism throughout his time back with the club.

"His leadership and achievements last season will always be fondly remembered."

Sky's sports correspondent Rob Harris said the club are "still negotiating the complete terms of his departure" - calling his dismissal the latest development in "a cycle of turmoil, of doom".

Describing the fans' anger at the club's leadership, he added: "They are still so angry 21 years on from the Glazers buying United, the American investors who haven't invested much, if anything, of their own money in the club.

"Instead, they've loaded it with debt, which has been the struggle to this day.

"Sir Jim Ratcliffe of Ineos was brought in in 2024 as a part owner, owning just under 30% but running day-to-day operations.

"Have things been any more tranquil? Has there been any more stability? Well, no, there's just more disarray in terms of the leadership of the club."

Former Chelsea and Tottenham boss, Pochettino, who recently signed a contract extension to remain the USA's head coach until the 2030 World Cup, is said to be interested in the Old Trafford position.

Sky Sports News understands that the 54-year-old Argentine has reached a verbal agreement in principle with the club, with United expected to pay around £7m to buy him out of his newly-signed contract.

Pochettino discussed the role with United on several occasions, including in 2022 when the club instead turned to Erik ten Hag.

Old Trafford chiefs were already considering alternatives to Carrick before United's game against Bournemouth at Old Trafford last month, Sky Sports News said.

Carrick played 464 games for United, winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League, along with a host of other honours.

The 45-year-old also played for Tottenham and West Ham and won 34 caps for England.

The handling of his dismissal prompted criticism from former United players, with Gary Neville caling the club "classless".

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Speaking on the Overlap's Stick to Football podcast, which was recorded before Thursday's developments, he said: "We're sat here today recording this programme knowing that Michael Carrick is going to be sacked tomorrow, knowing that they're speaking to Mauricio Pochettino, knowing that they've spoken to [Julian] Nagelsmann, [Eddie] Howe - and they should be doing that by the way, I'm not saying they shouldn't be doing that.

"But I think the fact they're in Monaco now and they can't sack him today knowing that it's happening, to me it just feels a little bit clumsy, it feels a little bit classless.

"I think if you live in Monaco, you can't leave a guy hanging for 24 or 48 hours just because you live in Monaco, that can't happen."

(c) Sky News 2026: Michael Carrick and Pierre Sage sacked in first Premier League dismissals of season