Manchester United reached an agreement for Mauricio Pochettino to become their new head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract running until 2029, with the club set to pay approximately $10 million (£7.4m) to secure his release from his United States contract after dismissing Michael Carrick on Thursday.
Michael Carrick Dismissed After Dire Premier League Run
Michael Carrick departed Old Trafford after signing a two-year contract following a draw with Aston Villa. That result left the club in 18th place in the relegation zone with just one win from 10 Premier League matches, marking the club’s worst league start in 40 years.
Club chiefs ratified the decision following recommendations from executives. In a public statement, the club announced the dismissal.
After a disappointing start to the season, the club has come to the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions.
Manchester United, Official Club Statement
Carrick leaves with an overall record of 15 wins in 32 matches—a 46.9 per cent win rate. That figure compares to his stellar interim spell last season when he won 12 of 17 games to end the season.
Before taking the permanent job in May after an interim spell that began in January, Carrick had been handed a two-year contract on the back of mounting fan support. Last season’s run of results swayed club bosses and earned Carrick the permanent position, though a miserable start to the new campaign undid it all.
Meetings between technical staff in March had previously concluded that the team played well against Manchester City, Arsenal, and in the first half against Tottenham Hotspur. However, a shock opening-day defeat to newly promoted Hull City in August kicked off a miserable start to the season, featuring just one league win and only three in all competitions from 15 attempts.
For several days prior, anticipation had surrounded Carrick’s exit, with reports indicating that the club’s hierarchy was scheduled to gather in Monaco on Wednesday to finalize the decision. The disclosure that club executives were convening in Monaco on Wednesday to propose Carrick’s ouster sparked a controversy that subjected the former midfielder and club icon to intense public scrutiny, even as fans steadfastly supported him.
Manchester United Pays $10 Million Buyout for Pochettino
Manchester United agreed to pay the buyout clause in Mauricio Pochettino’s United States contract, worth in the region of $10 million (£7.4m). The 54-year-old Argentine manager agreed to terms on a deal that keeps him at Old Trafford until 2029.
Prior to entering coaching, Pochettino enjoyed a successful playing career turning out for clubs such as French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain and Spanish side Espanyol, while also featuring internationally for Argentina, including participation in the 2002 World Cup. As a manager, he managed Chelsea before taking the international role with the USMNT in September 2024, guiding the tournament co-hosts to the last-16 of a home World Cup in the summer.
Before arriving in Manchester, Pochettino will coach the USMNT in both legs of their Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against Haiti on Saturday and Tuesday. His first match in charge of United will be an away fixture against Liverpool at Anfield on November 22.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed the appointment on X, writing that the deal had received the green light from the US Federation after terms were agreed on Wednesday.
United Faces Instability After Many Managers Replace Alex Ferguson
Pochettino becomes United’s seventh permanent head coach to be sacked or replaced since the departure of legendary manager Alex Ferguson in 2013, who won 26 major trophies in 27 years at Old Trafford with a 59.7 per cent win ratio across 1,500 games.
Gary Neville offered a blunt assessment of the ongoing instability to NBC Sports regarding the club’s leadership strategy.
“None of it has worked because if you've got a poor performance department, poor recruitment department, you've not got leadership that is strong right through the spine of the football club, you will fail,” Gary Neville said to NBC Sports regarding the club's leadership strategy.
You can keep changing the manager and thinking that’s going to be the answer. But this has been proven now over 12 years, that’s not the answer.
Gary Neville, Sky Sports
Earlier coverage: Manchester United Reach Verbal Agreement in Principle With Mauricio Pochettino
