Manchester United agree deal with Mauricio Pochettino to replace Michael Carrick

Manchester United and Mauricio Pochettino have agreed a deal for him to become the club's next head coach, according to Sky Sports. Pochettino is expected to sign a two-and-a-half-year contract at Old Trafford, replacing Michael Carrick, who was sacked earlier on Thursday.

Pochettino, who had a £7m release clause in his USA contract, is expected to fly to Manchester on Wednesday ahead of meeting his new players and taking training for the first time on Thursday. The formal announcement of Pochettino's appointment is expected on Friday, with the 54-year-old set to become United's eighth permanent appointment since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

United's bosses have been negotiating with US Soccer in the last 24 hours and have informed them that, out of respect, they are happy for Pochettino to take charge of both international matches in the double header with Haiti. The second of those two games is in Cincinnati on Tuesday/Wednesday morning UK time and arrangements are being made to fly the Argentine straight from there to Manchester to give him maximum time to prepare for his first game as United manager against Liverpool at Anfield a week on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

Carrick departed less than six months after signing a two-year contract having overseen the club's worst start to a Premier League season, with United in the relegation zone after picking up one win in 10 matches. In a statement on Thursday morning, shortly after Carrick left the training ground, United said they reached "the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions".

Meanwhile, club chiefs were at a Monaco summit with minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. That is where the decision to sack Carrick was ratified by Ratcliffe following the recommendation of chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox.

Jonny Evans and Jonathan Woodgate, who were part of the coaching set up under Carrick, have also left the club, along with Steve Holland, Travis Binnion and goalkeeping coach Craig Mawson. The only coach who remains is assistant first-team goalkeeping coach Connor King, who joined the club two months ago.

Carrick was initially appointed as United boss in January 2026 on a contract until the end of the season. He delivered a brilliant run of results, winning 12 of 17 matches to earn a third-place finish in the Premier League and a return to the Champions League. Carrick was nominated for Premier League Manager of the Season and, on May 22, signed a new contract running to 2028. However, just three wins in 15 matches this term have cost him his job.

Former Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss Pochettino has been considered for the United job on three previous occasions, but will now finally take the Old Trafford hot seat.

According to Yahoo Sports, David Ornstein of The Athletic has confirmed that United are set to pay the buyout in the Argentine's United States contract, worth in the region of $10million (£7.4m). The deal is still subject to completion, sources briefed on the negotiations speaking anonymously to protect relationships say, but should all progress as planned the 54-year-old will sign a contract at Old Trafford until 2029. An announcement could come as soon as Friday with Pochettino expected to take charge of the USMNT for both Concacaf Nations League quarter-final legs against Haiti, on Saturday and Tuesday, before arriving in Manchester ahead of United's next game, against Liverpool at Anfield on November 22.

This has been rubber-stamped by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano. According to Romano on X, "BREAKING: Manchester United appoint Mauricio Pochettino as new head coach, here we go!" "Deal done and green light from US Federation as Poch has agreed all terms on Wednesday." "New era at Manchester United."

Last weekend's dramatic 4-4 draw with Aston Villa left United languishing in 18th place, having won just one game all season and managing eight points from a possible 30.

Sources

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