Manchester United hopes for a revival with Pochettino as new coach
Mauricio Pochettino, 54, has been officially appointed as the new manager of Manchester United, with a start date of 18 November. He takes over from Michael Carrick, who was dismissed on Thursday after a disappointing start to the season. The Argentine coach brings extensive experience from both the Premier League and the United States.
Career and playing style of Pochettino
Pochettino previously served in England as manager of Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. With Tottenham he reached the Champions League final in 2019, after Ajax were narrowly beaten in the semi‑final. His style is characterised by attacking football, high intensity and a focus on building strong, close‑knit teams and developing individual players, according to the club website.
International experience and recent commitments
Until recently he was the head coach of the United States, a role in which he led the team to the round of 16 at the World Cup, where they were eliminated after a 1‑4 defeat to Belgium. He will still oversee two international matches against Haiti before departing for Manchester. Pochettino, who has also previously worked at Espanyol and Paris Saint‑Germain, signs a two‑and‑a‑half‑year contract until the summer of 2029.
Crisis at Manchester United and Carrick's departure
Manchester United currently sit in eighteenth place in the Premier League, with only one win this season. After a run of eight points from thirty games – the worst start since 1986 – the board decided to dismiss Carrick. Carrick had guided the team to third place and a Champions League spot last season, but could not continue that trajectory this season.
The release clause of just over ten million euros makes a mid‑season move to Manchester United possible. United will pay a buy‑out clause of around nine million euros to the United States soccer federation.
Pochettino ready to coach United, but first on the bench for USA
Pochettino will lead his first training on Thursday, after arriving at the training complex in Carrington on Wednesday. His first major challenge is the match against Liverpool at Anfield, scheduled for 22 November, directly after the international break.
In the Champions League group stage United will travel to Sporting Portugal on 25 November.
Fans had repeatedly called for Carrick’s departure, a decision that was taken during a summit in Monaco with CEO Omar Berrada, Director of Football Jason Wilcox and co‑owner Jim Ratcliffe. On United’s website Carrick is still praised as a club legend, both as a player and as a coach.
Although he did not win any trophies with Southampton, Tottenham or Chelsea, he won the French Cup with Paris Saint‑Germain in 2021 and the league title in 2022. At Chelsea he finished twice in third place and once in second place.