Manchester United Confirm Mauricio Pochettino as Head Coach to Replace Michael Carrick

Mauricio Pochettino has signed a 2½-year contract at Old Trafford and will take charge for the first time against Liverpool on Nov. 22.

Manchester United confirmed Mauricio Pochettino as the club's new head coach on Thursday after triggering a $10 million (£7.5m) release clause in his U.S. Soccer contract. The 54-year-old signed a 2½-year deal at Old Trafford following the sacking of Michael Carrick, who was dismissed just 15 games into a two-year tenure. United currently sit 18th in the Premier League table with only one victory recorded all season.

Pochettino was the unanimous choice of the United leadership team, receiving approval from Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family. Club CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox previously interviewed the Argentinian in May 2024. Sources told ESPN that Pochettino’s representatives first alerted the club to his release clause, and he was the only candidate spoken to directly during this search. Internal concerns regarding Carrick’s attention to technical details, such as set pieces, contributed to the managerial change.

The incoming manager will oversee the U.S. Men’s National Team’s fixtures against Haiti on Saturday and Tuesday before traveling to Manchester. He is scheduled to begin work at the Carrington training base on Wednesday. His first match on the touchline will be a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Nov. 22. In the interim, U.S. Soccer announced that Steve Cherundolo will lead the USMNT December camp while a search committee, including Emma Hayes and JT Batson, seeks a permanent successor.