Why hello there! This is Beyond The Pitch, where we explore the scores and fixtures of the FIFA World Cup, Premier League, and the English Football League, from The Pitch to The Headlines.

MICHAEL CARRICK IS SET TO BE SACKED 

Michael Carrick's position as Manchester United head coach is looking increasingly doubtful, with Mauricio Pochettino open to a discussion if he were approached by the club.

The cost of buying him out of his contract with his current job as USA head coach would be around £7m.

The former Argentina defender recently extended his deal with the USA until 2030 and is preparing to face Haiti in the Nations League quarter-finals.

There are now real doubts about whether he will be in charge of the team which goes to Anfield to play Liverpool the weekend after next.

If they decide to remove Carrick from his position, they want to avoid having an interim head coach take over.

Manchester United under Carrick | Source: Sky Sports
 

TOM BRADY LEAVES BIRMINGHAM 

Birmingham has announced the shock departure of NFL legend Tom Brady as minority owner, with the club sitting top of the Championship table.

In a statement, the club said: "Birmingham City Football Club expresses its sincere gratitude to Tom Brady for his involvement with and unwavering support for the club over the last three years."

Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion in his playing days, bought a minority stake in the club in August 2023 during its takeover by an American capital management firm.

A summer of considerable spending, including the third-tier record £15m signing of England U21 forward Jay Stansfield, saw them promoted back to the Championship for the first time of asking.

Tom Brady | Source: Sky Sports

BALLON d'OR WINNER HARRY KANE NOT INCLUDED IN FIFPRO WORLD 11

Over 18,000 professional footballers have chosen their best men's team, with the final 11 being chosen from a group of 26 selected finalists.

Kane was among the 26 finalists but did not make the final team.

Mbappe, Manchester City's Erling Haaland, Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Inter Miami's Lionel Messi were named in a Kane-less front four, which also excluded Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Olise.

Kane became the first English Ballon d'Or winner last month since Michael Owen in 2001 and only the fifth in history, following in the footsteps of Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen.

The Bayern Munich star received just 27.6 per cent of votes of all the forwards, with Haaland marginally bettering him at 28.4 per cent. It is the first time since the award's inception in 2005 that the Ballon d'Or winner has not been selected for the XI.

Harry Kane | Source: Sky Sports

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