The revolving door keeps turning at Manchester United.
The Red Devils intend to fire coach Michael Carrick following Sunday's 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, according to David Ornstein, Adam Crafton, and Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic.
Although the club insists it hasn't made any decision about Carrick's future, the Red Devils are already looking for potential replacements, sources told Ornstein, Crafton, and Whitwell. The team is reportedly expected to find a new manager before its Nov. 22 match at Liverpool.
United States men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as the front-runner to succeed Carrick, sources told ESPN's Mark Ogden and Rob Dawson.
The former Tottenham and Chelsea manager extended his contract with the United States Soccer Federation until 2030 after the 2026 World Cup. But his new deal includes an escape clause that enables him to speak with a major European club if that team is prepared to activate his $10-million release fee, sources told Ogden.
Pochettino, who previously interviewed to coach Manchester United on three different occasions, is reportedly open to taking the job.
Former Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe, ex-Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann, and former Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna are other candidates being considered by United officials, according to Ogden and Dawson.
Manchester United head into the international break 18th in the Premier League table and in the relegation zone with just one win from 10 league games.
The Red Devils staged two dramatic late rallies in their last two matches. They beat Roma in the final moments after being down 2-0 during their Champions League meeting Tuesday and then stormed back to pull even with Aston Villa on two occasions after allowing two goals in the first 10 minutes of each half. They scored two goals after the 90th minute Sunday.
Those recoveries weren't enough to save Carrick's job, however. Prior to the comeback against Roma, Manchester United were riding a nine-match winless run across all competitions.
The chaotic 4-4 draw against Villa once again exposed the team's defensive frailties; United have conceded 15 goals in their last five matches.
Carrick, who oversaw United's training session Tuesday, was named the Red Devils' full-time boss in May after a strong spell as interim coach last season in which he guided the club to a third-place Premier League finish. However, the former Manchester United midfielder hasn't been able to replicate that success this term.
In addition to the team's struggles on the pitch, Carrick was openly questioned by his captain as the mood around the club continued to sour in recent weeks.
Bruno Fernandes called out United's passive tactics out of possession following their humbling 4-1 Champions League loss to Como in October, which prompted Carrick to omit the Portuguese playmaker from the starting lineup for their next contest against Bournemouth.
Carrick called the move a "pure football" decision prior to the match. However, it was the first time Carrick had named a Premier League starting lineup that didn't include Fernandes, according to Opta.
Fernandes then returned to the starting lineup for United's next match against Chelsea but made little impact in another disappointing defeat.
"Whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don't run and you don't run forward, and you don't run back, you ain't going to win," the bench boss previously said in response to the midfielder's criticism.
Lisandro Martinez, another player who has publicly criticized the club's recruitment policy and leadership amid the slump, was sent off after receiving two yellow cards - and conceding a penalty - against Chelsea. He was removed from the starting lineup for the meeting with Roma.
The fallen Premier League giants will now embark on yet another managerial search.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson brought down the curtain on his iconic 26-year reign in 2013, Manchester United have cycled through seven different permanent managers, with several others serving in interim or caretaker roles during a frustrating period of upheaval and dysfunction at Old Trafford.
Fans in the Stretford End showed their support for Carrick during United's loss to Bournemouth, directing their anger toward the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe with a series of anti-ownership chants. They staged similar protests Tuesday, even throwing objects onto the pitch.
