The former Chelsea and Tottenham boss, who took the USA to the World Cup last 16, inherits a side in the relegation zone.
Manchester United have appointed Mauricio Pochettino as head coach, replacing Michael Carrick, who was sacked on Thursday. Punch reports that the club announced the appointment on Friday, after agreeing with US Soccer that Pochettino and his staff would leave the US men's national team. The Guardian reports that he has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal.
United said in a statement on Thursday that they had reached "the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions". Sky Sports reports that United were in the relegation zone after one win in 10 Premier League matches, and that Carrick had won three of his 15 matches this season. The Guardian calls it the club's worst start to a season in four decades. Carrick posted on Instagram on Friday: "I want nothing but success for Manchester United".
Pochettino was hired by US Soccer in September 2024. Over the following two years he compiled a 21-12-2 record and led the team to the World Cup last 16, where a 4-1 loss to Belgium ended their tournament. The Guardian says he will coach the US in two Concacaf Nations League matches against Haiti before joining United. Thanking the federation on Friday, he said: "The opportunity to represent the USA crest was one of the greatest honours of my career."
BBC Sport recalls that in 2023, when he was at Chelsea, Pochettino was asked for the three Premier League managers he would most have loved to play for. He answered: "Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Alex Ferguson."
Explaining what Ferguson meant to him as a young coach, Pochettino said:
"When I was young, when I started my career as a manager, he was always my inspiration, my reference."
The BBC's football tactics correspondent Umir Irfan writes that Pochettino describes his sides as needing "to be protagonists, always press high, work hard and be dynamic". Irfan notes that bringing him in will immediately begin the process of turning United into a well-drilled side, capable of applying intense pressure, likely in a co-ordinated manner.
TEAMtalk reports that United have added US internationals Folarin Balogun and Alex Freeman to their list of targets. The TEAMtalk report, relayed by ESPN, says the Monaco striker, 25, and the Villarreal defender, 22, are seen as ideal candidates for a January move, given their familiarity with Pochettino.
Captain Bruno Fernandes has rejected a second contract offer, the Guardian reports, but the club are confident he will commit his future. His deal runs until the end of the season, with United holding the option of a further year.
Pochettino's first match in charge is away at Liverpool on Sunday 22 November, live on Sky Sports.
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