MAKING A STATEMENT
Tuesday 22 April 2014: “Manchester United has announced that David Moyes has left the club. The club would like to place on record its thanks for the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role.”
Monday 23 May 2016: “Louis van Gaal is to leave Manchester United, with immediate effect. Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said: ‘I would like to thank Louis and his staff for their excellent work in the past two years culminating in winning a record-equalling 12th FA Cup for the club (and securing him a title in four different countries). He has behaved with great professionalism and dignity throughout his time here.’ A decision on a successor as manager will be announced soon.”
Tuesday 18 December 2018: “Manchester United announces that manager José Mourinho has left the club with immediate effect. The club would like to thank José for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future. A new caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the current season, while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager.”
Sunday 21 November 2021: “Manchester United announces that Ole Gunnar Solskjær has left his role as manager. Ole will always be a legend at Manchester United and it is with regret that we have reached this difficult decision. While the past few weeks have been disappointing, they should not obscure all the work he has done over the past three years to rebuild the foundations for long-term success.”
Monday 28 October 2024: “Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager. Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024. We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future.”
Monday 5 January 2026: “Ruben Amorim has departed his role as head coach of Manchester United. Ruben was appointed in November 2024 and led the team to a Uefa Europa League final in Bilbao in May. With Manchester United sitting sixth in the Premier League, the club’s leadership has reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change. This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish. The club would like to thank Ruben for his contribution to the club and wishes him well for the future.”
Thursday 12 November 2026: “Manchester United can confirm that Michael Carrick has departed his role as men’s first-team head coach. 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. 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.”
LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE
Join Simon Burnton for piping hot MBM coverage of Barcelona 2-0 Arsenal in the Women’s Champions League from 5.45pm (all times GMT). Then join Scott Murray for Harry Kane’s coronation as England’s record cap winner, and England 4-1 Croatia in the Nations League from 8pm.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“First of all we would like to sincerely apologise to the Korean public and football fans for the concern caused by recent reports concerning the national team. At our recent meeting we gathered to share our thoughts on the national team openly and honestly. By listening directly to one another and discussing matters we had not had sufficient opportunities to address, we were able to gain a better understanding of each other’s positions” – the Korean FA and players Son Heung-min Kim Min-jae, Lee Jae-sung, Hwang In-beom and Hwang Hee-chan issue a finely worded non-apology for what definitely was not a massive falling out between squad members after their early exit from the World Cup.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
Oh no! Where will the USA! USA! USA! ever be able to find a manager who could lead us to the dizzying heights of yet another humiliating defeat in the round of 16? A completely empty safari shirt on a clothes hanger could do that. Now he’s leaving the national team to prioritise a club team, which is exactly what he criticised Christian Pulisic for doing a while back. A $10m dollar buyout from Manchester United is a way more appealing prospect than another World Cup cycle with this guy. Adios, Mauricio. I’d add gracias, but for what, exactly?” – Chi.
If any Manchester United fans weren’t already feeling that their board had totally lost its moral compass, then might I suggest that in holding the board meeting to seal Michael Carrick’s fate in Monaco a new bar in tone-deafness has been set. Out of touch, no? Pas du tout. Bonne chance, Mauricio, you are going to need it fella. Meanwhile, let’s pencil in the next board meeting for six months’ time or so. Circus Circus in Las Vegas anyone? Might be too many clowns” – John Collins.
With Lil Wayne doing his bit in the jungle, how long before we do actually see Don Pochettino playing a starring role in the Joel & Jim-hosted caper show I’m A Previously Respectable Manager … Get Me Out Of Here?” – Ken Muir.
If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day goes to … Chi. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here.
WHERE EAGLES DAREN’T
Not to be outdone, Crystal Palace also dispensed with their manager on Thursday, Pierre Sage’s brief, unhappy tenure coming to a predictable end. Sage has been linked with a speedy return to Lens in Ligue 1, his former club, who in turn sacked Yannick Cahuzac in the wake of a recent 9-1 Champions League drubbing by Como and a further loss to Marseille. Thomas Frank, formerly of Brentford and (less successfully) Tottenham, is strongly linked with the managerial hot seat at Selhurst Park.
NEWS, BITS AND BOBS
More strife for Gianni Infantino? A complaint has been filed to the IRS calling for an investigation into claims an individual on Fifa payroll was working privately as a housekeeper for the governing body’s president. Infantino is yet to comment.
The US men’s national team have pulled out of the Fifa U-17 World Cup, that is due to kick off in Qatar in just over a week, citing safety concerns for players and staff.
Thomas Tuchel is laser-focused on making history with England at Euro 2028. “There’s no intention [of leaving],” he cheered. “I signed the contract. I want to stay until the Euros. I want to do the Euros. We have unfinished business.”
Old Trafford-bound Mauricio Pochettino will lead the US men’s team through the current international window before jetting to Manchester.
And the top four ranked teams will be separated until the semi-finals at the 2027 Women’s World Cup, provided they each win their group, after a change to the tournament’s draw procedure.
MOVING THE GOALPOSTS
In our sister newsletter, Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff meets the players challenging myths around pregnancy in football. Have a read here and if you want Moving the Goalposts in your inbox twice a week, sign up here.
STILL WANT MORE?
Can Mauricio Pochettino make it work at Manchester United? David Hytner tries to answer the £10m question.
Michael Carrick was just the latest fall guy for Manchester United’s dysfunctional hierarchy, writes Jamie Jackson.
The only surprise in Pierre Sage’s sacking by Crystal Palace is that it took so long, writes Ed Aarons.
Who is Kozo Tashima, the Japanese administrator hoping to topple Gianni Infantino? John Duerden profiles an unlikely challenger for the Fifa overlord position.
And ‘second ball’ may be a Sunday league mantra but Ryan Yates showed its top-flight relevance – Luke McLaughlin on Forest’s old-school midfielder.
MEMORY LANE
7 June 1989 was the final day that Bobby Moore spent as England’s record cap holder. Then on a bright early summer evening in Copenhagen, Peter Shilton won his 109th cap to go past the World Cup winning captain and set a new benchmark, one that he has held for over 37 years. On Thursday night at Wembley, barring an unforeseen hamstring twang in the warm-ups, Harry Kane will go past Shilton’s final tally of 125 and pick up his 126th England cap, a truly remarkable feat. While Shilton’s time as record holder spanned five decades, quite how long Kane will hold the mark remains to be seen, with Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham already racking up the caps. But there might be a few more bells and whistles tonight than Shilton received at Parken and at least Kane can probably expect his fellow players to look a little more enthusiastic than Peter Schmeichel and Bryan Robson do here.
