Michael Carrick's time as Manchester United manager appears to be drawing to a close, with the manager widely anticipated to be sacked before the week is over. It represents a dramatic shift from merely months ago, when Carrick was enjoying a promising interim spell in the Old Trafford hot seat. Installed in January after Ruben Amorim's exit, he oversaw a marked upturn in performance levels after United's patchy start to the season, eventually securing Champions League football.
His achievements justified United's choice to appoint him rather than former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was also in contention to succeed Amorim. The two ex-team-mates were believed to be the two main contenders, with the club eventually deciding to entrust Carrick with the role.
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Despite the clear rivalry for such a prestigious post, there was no evident friction between the duo. Rather, their enduring friendship remained unaffected, with Solskjaer opting to emphasise Carrick's qualities to the Old Trafford hierarchy rather than attempting to undermine him.
"It was a very special period. Of course it was. It was special in many ways," Solskjaer remarked on competing directly with his former assistant to Norwegian broadcaster TV2.
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"When I spoke to United, I also boasted about Michael. 'If you choose him, you will get a good man,' I said. I think he did the same to me."
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According to Solskjaer, neither contender saw the role as a desperate necessity, presenting themselves to the hierarchy with restrained professionalism rather than aggressive self-advancement.
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Carrick eventually secured the job, with the board gambling on his capacity to revitalise a squad lacking momentum and a strategic plan. However, with performances deteriorating this season, his sacking now looms large.
United have claimed victory in only one of their first 10 Premier League fixtures and sit 18th in the standings. The side delivered a stirring fightback in a dramatic 4-4 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday, yet the elation of Patrick Dorgu's last-gasp leveller proved short-lived.
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On Monday, reports surfaced that United were preparing to dismiss Carrick following discussions between chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox. On Wednesday, the duo convened with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco to finalise Carrick's dismissal.
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United now seem to be pursuing Mauricio Pochettino, who currently manages the United States men's national side. The Argentine, who has repeatedly been connected with the Old Trafford position, is said to be eager to accept the opportunity, and it's believed that arrangements to install him are nearing completion.
For Carrick, it represents a harsh and rapid descent from favour merely months after steering the club back into Europe's elite competition.
And while Solskjaer was content to prioritise his former team-mate's interests above his own, Carrick's looming exit serves as a stark reminder of just how transient success can prove at Manchester United.