Manchester United has fired embattled head coach Michael Carrick after a dire start to the season that leaves the once-great club languishing in the Premier League relegation zone.

It’s not yet confirmed who will take over from the Englishman, but CNN Sports understands that US Men’s National Team (USMNT) coach Mauricio Pochettino has reached a verbal agreement with the club.

The club said it “intends to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible.”

Carrick took over on an interim basis in January before overseeing a turnaround in the squad’s fortunes at the tail end of the last campaign. That resurgence was enough to earn him the permanent job in May, when he signed a two-year contract with the club he once played for.

However, this season has quickly turned sour, with the team winning just once in 10 Premier League matches – the club’s worst league start in 40 years.

“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,” a club statement said Thursday.

“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.”

In addition to the shocking run of results, which leaves the Red Devils in 18th place, the season has been punctuated by several flashpoints – including public outbursts from club captain Bruno Fernandes and fans turning on many of the players.

Carrick becomes the seventh permanent head coach to be sacked by United since the departure of legendary manager Alex Ferguson in 2013.

In truth, Carrick’s departure had been expected for much of this week, with reports emerging that the club’s hierarchy was due to meet in Monaco on Wednesday to make it official.

Meanwhile, Carrick took training as normal, even when it was clear who United was lining up as his potential replacement.

Talks between United, Pochettino and US Soccer will continue this week before anything is made official.

The USMNT is set to play Haiti on Saturday and Tuesday and, as things stand, Pochettino is expected to be in charge of both matches before any move to Old Trafford.

Who is Mauricio Pochettino?

So, what do we know about Pochettino and will he be a good fit at Manchester United?

Before management, Pochettino was a very good player – representing the likes of Spanish side Espanyol and French giant Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). He also represented his country, Argentina, including at the 2002 World Cup.

But it was as a manager that he really flourished. He started back at his former club Espanyol, but began making a real name for himself while impressing at English club Southampton.

A move to Tottenham followed in 2014 where he transformed the team into a winning machine. He most notably led the London club to the UEFA Champions League final in 2019, before losing to Liverpool.

By this point, the Argentine was considered one of the best coaches in the world – known for developing young talent, a front-foot style of play and a no-nonsense approach to management.

Spells at PSG and Chelsea followed before he took charge of the USA in 2024. And while his project took a while to get going, he led the US team to an impressive World Cup campaign and the team now looks well set for the future.

Interestingly, Pochettino has been on United’s radar before but, for whatever reason, the two parties could never quite line up. Now, though, Pochettino has the chance to bring United back to the top of the sport.

Analysis: Can Manchester United finally get something right?

This week has been another lowlight for Manchester United.

News of the club’s hierarchy meeting in Monaco on Wednesday to recommend replacing Carrick created an unnecessary saga that dragged the club legend through the wringer.

While reports of his imminent sacking were allowed to spread like wildfire, Carrick kept his head down and took training as normal – sticking to his philosophy and looking like the only adult in the room.

The handling of his departure was just another example of how poorly the club is being run, and puts the spotlight firmly on the ownership once again.

Things were supposed to be so different. When co-owner Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS took charge of the soccer operations a few years ago, their arrival was going to breathe fresh life into a club decaying under the much-maligned Glazer family’s ownership.

And, in truth, there was an initial injection of excitement. The club got a revamped training facility, plans for a new stadium were announced and a new management structure was established, making Omar Berrada the CEO and Jason Wilcox the sporting director.

The two were supposed to overhaul the squad and usher in a new era of success – with an initial goal to win the Premier League in 2028. Only, in reality, almost everything has gone wrong since.

Carrick is the third head coach to fail under their watch, following Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim. Millions have been spent on compensation to fix those mistakes and performances have suffered.

The club now looks set to secure the man they call “Poch,” a manager they’ve been interested in but ultimately overlooked in recent seasons.

But whether it’s Pochettino or someone else who eventually takes charge, the job facing the new head coach is gigantic.

First, they have to work out how to fit into the club’s failing hierarchy. They’ll then need to work on a playing roster that looks short of quality and motivate players who look mentally fragile.

Perhaps most importantly, the new boss will need to keep the fans on side. Even when things got ugly under Carrick, the supporters chose to back the former midfielder, putting the blame firmly at the feet of the players and the club’s hierarchy.

The consensus is that the current culture around the club is so toxic that it’s almost impossible for any head coach to succeed. The new manager will have a tough job trying to prove that wrong.