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Pochettino Takes Over Manchester United Amid Relegation Fears
Confirmed
In Short: Former USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to take over Manchester United, tasked with turning around the club's worst start in 40 years.
Mauricio Pochettino leads USMNT training amid Manchester United move reports.
‘They need to SELL BRUNO FERNANDES’ 😳 What changes will Pochettino make at Man United? | ESPN FC. ESPN FC
Manchester United's current manager, Michael Carrick, was recently set loose after an extended tenure marked by poor performance.
Pochettino's appointment comes after a series of failed managerial attempts at United, including close calls in 2016 and 2022.
United currently sits in the relegation zone with just eight points from their opening 10 games, a stark contrast to their third-place finish under Carrick's interim leadership.
Pochettino's journey to this point includes successful stints at Southampton and Tottenham, where he guided Tottenham to fight with the big boys.
Pochettino's departure from the USMNT is particularly notable, as he had only recently signed a four-year contract with the federation.
United's powerbrokers have been considering Pochettino for the position for some time, with a £7m release clause in his contract.
Pochettino's challenge is immense, as United has had a revolving door of managers since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Pochettino's dream team at United could include proven Premier League players like Fulham's left-back, who would bring quality and knowledge of Pochettino’s approach.
What this adds
Pochettino's contract with U.S. Soccer included a $10 million release clause, ensuring compensation for the federation.
The magnitude of Manchester United's current struggles is unprecedented, with the club facing potential relegation for the first time in decades.
What's confirmed
- Manchester United's current manager, Michael Carrick, was recently set loose after an extended tenure marked by poor performance.
- Pochettino's appointment comes after a series of failed managerial attempts at United, including close calls in 2016 and 2022.
- United currently sits in the relegation zone with just eight points from their opening 10 games, a stark contrast to their third-place finish under Carrick's interim leadership.
- Pochettino's journey to this point includes successful stints at Southampton and Tottenham, where he guided Tottenham to fight with the big boys.
- Pochettino's departure from the USMNT is particularly notable, as he had only recently signed a four-year contract with the federation.
- United's powerbrokers have been considering Pochettino for the position for some time, with a £7m release clause in his contract.
- Pochettino's challenge is immense, as United has had a revolving door of managers since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
- Pochettino's dream team at United could include proven Premier League players like Fulham's left-back, who would bring quality and knowledge of Pochettino’s approach.
What's still developing
- Pochettino had a rocky start there, but eventually righted the ship enough to guide the USMNT to a Group D first-place finish and a Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Now, in the middle of an international break where he will manage two matches in the CONCACAF Nations League (both against Haiti, on Nov. 14 and 17), Pochettino has agreed to take on an even harder challenge: Fix what has been ailing Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson called it quits 13-plus years ago.
- Pochettino had famously come to international prominence first at Southampton and then in his five-season-plus stint at Tottenham Hotspur, which saw that club's evolution from an also-ran into, well, an also-ran that could actually fight with the big boys.
- If someone had said that one of the big names on the U.S. men's national team would be joining Manchester United in the aftermath of the 2026 World Cup, you would have thought a player.
- In fact, with Fergie three years out of management and Pochettino at Tottenham (second season where Spurs ended third), they were publicly spotted having lunch in Mayfair in London back in 2016 – thus enforcing the belief of their deep respect for each other.
- Soccer and an additional $2 million for the staff.
- Manchester United powerbrokers set to make a final decision on Michael Carrick's future after Wednesday's Monaco summit; Mauricio Pochettino, who has a £7m release clause in the contract he signed with the USA after the World Cup, has been lined up as his replacement Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Manchester United have reached a verbal agreement in principle with Mauricio Pochettino to take over as head coach.
- Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 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.
- He entered the game against Haiti needing one competitive match to meet FIFA’s requirements, and Pochettino put him in the starting lineup, tying him to the USMNT.
- Pochettino and United go back a long way, with the Argentine's name associated with the club since he was spotted leaving a lunch appointment at Scott's restaurant in Mayfair with Sir Alex Ferguson in 2016.
- Pochettino was mentioned as a contender to succeed Louis van Gaal when he was sacked by United in May 2016, then when Jose Mourinho suffered the same fate in December 2018.
- U.S. Soccer's Mauricio Pochettino experiment officially ended Friday with the announcement that the Argentine manager is leaving his position with the U.S. men's national team to take up the reins with Manchester United.