Mauricio Pochettino Manchester United head coach agreement, Digi Mart USA News: Manchester United have reached a verbal agreement in principle with Mauricio Pochettino to take over as head coach. Michael Carrick took training on Wednesday and officially remains United boss, but he is likely to be relieved of his duties before the end of the week.
He is set to be replaced by Pochettino, although the Argentine is likely to remain in charge of the USA for their two games against Haiti during the current international break. It is understood United are comfortable with that scenario, and talks with US Soccer are set to accelerate over the next 24 hours.
While United are keen to get Pochettino to Old Trafford as soon as possible, the club are understood to be mindful of his commitments to the USA. The majority of United’s players will return to the club by next Thursday ahead of their trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday, November 22, live on Sky Sports.
United are still finalizing details with Pochettino’s camp. They need to discuss the £7m buyout for Pochettino with US Soccer and negotiate terms for his backroom staff.
Pochettino would become United’s eighth permanent boss since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson 13 years ago.
Omar Berrada, the chief executive, and Jason Wilcox, the director of football, met co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco on Wednesday to review the club’s start to the season. Carrick was handed a stay of execution after United’s 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League last month, but momentum is now gathering behind a change in the dugout.
United have held talks over appointing Pochettino on three separate occasions prior to this and came close to appointing him a few times, including in 2022 when they hired Erik ten Hag instead. Ferguson had long admired Pochettino and often held long conversations with the former Spurs boss following his matches against United.
The pair were pictured at a Mayfair restaurant in May 2016 amid speculation about Pochettino, then Spurs head coach, taking over from Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford. United subsequently chose to appoint José Mourinho.
It is understood Pochettino loves his job with the USA but feels he cannot say no to United.
The 54-year-old is ready to return to the Premier League two years after he was sacked by Chelsea. Pochettino considers his time at Stamford Bridge successful but ultimately feels it was not the right fit.
Upcoming Manchester United fixtures include Liverpool (away) in the Premier League on Sunday, November 22, live on Sky Sports; Sporting (away) in the Champions League on Wednesday, November 25; Brentford (home) in the Premier League on Saturday, November 28; Newcastle (away) in the Premier League on Wednesday, December 2, live on Sky Sports; Coventry (home) in the Premier League on Saturday, December 5; and RB Leipzig (home) in the Champions League on Tuesday, December 8.
Sky Sports’ Laura Hunter notes that Pochettino and Manchester United have a long-established history, with paths that might have crossed numerous times without ever converging. The Old Trafford hierarchy has admired Pochettino from afar, including while he was at Tottenham and again when his time at Paris Saint-Germain was coming to an end.
That pursuit was complicated by Pochettino’s move back to London to sign with Chelsea. United were coached by Erik ten Hag at the time of Chelsea’s 2023 interest in Pochettino, a period that followed a heavy defeat to Sevilla in Europe.
Four managers of varying permanency have since followed Ten Hag, and the chance to appoint Pochettino has now returned.
Fan reaction is mixed. Some supporters argue that Pochettino is a good manager and would be a welcome appointment, while others question whether any manager can succeed without changes in recruitment and club leadership, and say the issues at the club go beyond the coach.
