Manchester United Fires Michael Carrick
The club parts ways with Carrick as it continues to search for a long-term successor to Sir Alex Ferguson.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Soccer
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Manchester United fired Michael Carrick on Thursday. Seven permanent managers have followed Sir Alex Ferguson since he retired at the end of the 2012-13 season, and none has won the league title.
Why it matters
The dismissal adds to a pattern of managerial turnover at Old Trafford that has cost the club substantial sums in compensation. The club has now spent approximately £78.5 million on payouts to dismissed managers since 2013.
Sir Alex Ferguson won 38 trophies at Manchester United, including 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League victories, while his seven successors have combined for seven trophies since 2013. The amount the club will pay to Carrick has not yet been disclosed.
The players
Manchester United
A Premier League club based in Manchester, England, and one of the most decorated teams in English football history.
Michael Carrick
A former Manchester United midfielder who later managed the club before being dismissed.
Sir Alex Ferguson
The longtime Manchester United manager who led the club to 38 trophies before retiring in 2013.
The details
Manchester United paid £5 million to part ways with David Moyes, £8.4 million to part ways with Louis van Gaal, £19.6 million to part ways with José Mourinho, £7.5 million to part ways with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and £14.5 million to part ways with Erik ten Hag. Ralf Rangnick initially took on a consultancy role at Old Trafford before becoming interim manager.
Timeline
Summer 2013: Ferguson's successors began their trophy count after he stepped down.
End of the 2012-13 season: Sir Alex Ferguson retired as Manchester United manager.
Thursday, November 2026: Manchester United fired Michael Carrick.
Season Trajectory
Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired at the end of the 2012-13 season, Manchester United has cycled through seven permanent managers without matching his trophy haul. The firing of Michael Carrick extends that run and keeps the club's search for stability unresolved.
Manchester United's managerial search will determine the club's direction for the rest of the season and beyond. Fans and fantasy managers should watch for the appointment of an interim or permanent successor, as that decision will affect the team's tactics and selection.
The takeaway
Frequent managerial changes carry a measurable cost, and the gap between Ferguson's era and everything since is now the central question for Manchester United's future.
Further reading
Explore more soccer coverage for the wider context around managerial changes in the Premier League.
Source note: This article includes information reported by As.
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