Manchester United have appointed Mauricio Pochettino as head coach, the club has confirmed today (Friday 13 November), a day after sacking Michael Carrick. The Argentine takes charge on Wednesday 18 November, with United third-bottom of the Premier League.
Pochettino has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract that runs until June 2029. United triggered a $10m (£7.4m) release clause in his deal with the United States national team, a team which he has coached since before last summer’s World Cup. In a club statement, United describe him as a coach known for “his dynamic, attacking approach to football, his commitment to fostering strong, unified teams, and his exceptional track record in player development”.
What happens next
Pochettino will not arrive straight away. He stays with the USA for their two Concacaf Nations League quarter-final games against Haiti, then moves to Manchester.
- Friday 13 November: Pochettino holds his USA pre-match news conference at around 14:15 GMT. He was in tears as he called leaving “one of the most difficult decisions of his career”.
- Tuesday 17 November: his last game in charge of the USA.
- Wednesday 18 November: he starts at United, expected to spend the day at the Carrington training ground meeting his staff while players return from international duty.
- Thursday 19 November: he is expected to take his first training session, with all players due back.
- Thursday or Friday: his first pre-match news conference as United manager.
The announcement does not say who will be on the touchline in the meantime.
What it means for supporters
The mood around Old Trafford has been grim. United are on eight points after winning one of their first 10 league games, and they sit one point from safety. After a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth three weeks ago, thousands of fans still sang for Carrick. Carrick has since thanked supporters, calling it a “privilege” to lead “the club I love”.
Pochettino is the only coach United spoke to directly about the job. Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte were also mentioned as possibilities after the Bournemouth game, but many supporters are welcoming the choice.
United have sacked three managers in three seasons, and Pochettino will be the 12th different person to take charge of a Premier League game for the club since 2013-14. Only Chelsea (14) and Crystal Palace (13) have had more.
A familiar name
The link between Pochettino and United goes back to 2016, when he was photographed leaving a lunch with Sir Alex Ferguson at Scott’s restaurant in Mayfair. Now, after spells at Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea, United will be the fourth Premier League club he has managed.
For match-going fans, the first real sign will come with his opening news conference and his first team selection at Old Trafford.
