Manchester United have appointed Mauricio Pochettino as head coach. The former Tottenham and Chelsea manager will take charge on Wednesday 18 November, six days after the club sacked Michael Carrick with United in the Premier League relegation zone.
The Guardian reports that Pochettino has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract. United have agreed with US Soccer to release the 54-year-old and his coaching staff once they have completed their international duties. His first match in charge is expected to be away to Liverpool on Sunday 22 November.
United finished third under Carrick last season but have won only one of their opening 10 league games this term. They sit 18th with eight points. Carrick’s dismissal followed a 4–4 draw with Aston Villa, in which United scored twice in stoppage time to rescue a point.
Pochettino to finish USA duties before joining United
Pochettino will lead the United States in both legs of their Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against Haiti before moving to Manchester. The fixtures are scheduled for 14 November in Miami and 17 November in Cincinnati, local time.
Pochettino took charge of the United States in September 2024 and led them to the last 16 of this summer’s World Cup. The co-hosts beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 before losing 4–1 to Belgium. In August, US Soccer agreed a new deal with him through the 2030 World Cup.
In a statement on Friday, Pochettino said representing the United States had been “one of the greatest honours of my career”. The Guardian reports that United paid around £7.5m to secure his release, with a separate payment for his assistants.
Pochettino’s Premier League record
Pochettino won 150 of his 294 Premier League matches across Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea, drawing 70 and losing 74. That gives him a win rate of 51%.
He arrived at Southampton in January 2013 and led the club to eighth in his only full season. His side pressed high up the pitch and featured young players including Luke Shaw and James Ward-Prowse.
At Tottenham, Pochettino secured four successive top-four finishes. Spurs were runners-up in 2016–17 with a club-record 86 Premier League points. Two years later they reached their first Champions League final, losing 2–0 to Liverpool. His spell at Spurs ended in November 2019.
He won Ligue 1 and the French Cup with Paris Saint-Germain before returning to England with Chelsea in 2023. Chelsea won their final five league games to finish sixth. Pochettino left by mutual consent after one season.
What awaits him at Old Trafford
United’s interest in Pochettino predates Carrick’s dismissal. Sky Sports News reports that the club spoke to him after he left Chelsea in 2024, while Erik ten Hag was still in charge.
His best Tottenham sides pressed together and made it difficult for opponents to play through midfield. United have conceded 19 goals in 10 league matches this season. At Anfield, four days after he officially takes charge, the first test will be how quickly he can make United harder to play through.
