Manchester United have reached a framework agreement to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as their head coach, pending the departure of Michael Carrick, as club leadership moves to address a dismal start to the season according to reporting from the Guardian.
Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox travelled to Monaco to meet minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who controls the club’s sporting policy as reported by the Guardian.
The executives were expected to recommend that Carrick be relieved of his duties following a sequence of results that leaves the team 18th in the Premier League table with just eight points from their opening 10 matches according to Yahoo Sports.
A United board meeting was scheduled to follow the discussions in Monaco, with representation from one or more of the six Glazer siblings expected to ratify the departure the Guardian stated.
United have spent large amounts of money replacing managers since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club in the summer of 2013, according to Sky Sports News reporter Adam Binnie. Meanwhile, the current squad has struggled on the pitch, enduring a 2-0 defeat away at Atlético Madrid last month in a campaign that also saw the side knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton.
Pochettino took over as the United States men’s national team head coach in September 2024 and signed a contract running through the 2030 World Cup cycle in August noted the Guardian and FOX Sports. His current agreement contains an exit clause reported at around $10m, payable to U.S. Soccer reported The Hype Magazine and the Guardian.
Pochettino could potentially remain in charge of the United States for upcoming games against Haiti unless an agreement to release him earlier can be reached with the US Soccer Federation. The USA team were scheduled to play Concacaf Nations League matches against Haiti in Miami and Cincinnati.
Manchester United are finalising a deal for Mauricio Pochettino to become their next head coach, if an ultimate decision is taken to relieve Michael Carrick of his duties. The Athletic reported on Monday that United were expected to let Carrick go, with his side in the Premier… pic.twitter.com/X3pRgFAkqW
According to TeamTalk, those staff members include long-standing assistant Jesús Pérez, assistant coach Miguel ‘Miki’ D’Agostino, goalkeeping coach Antonio ‘Toni’ Jiménez, and sports scientist Sebastiano Pochettino.
Pochettino has made it clear that he would like four key members of his backroom team to accompany him at Old Trafford.
TeamTalk, via Yahoo Sports
United’s interest in the Argentine manager spans a decade, marked by multiple missed opportunities reported Sky Sports. Sir Alex Ferguson has long admired Pochettino, maintaining a relationship that included speculation when Pochettino was Tottenham Hotspur head coach and the pair were pictured at a Mayfair restaurant in May 2016 amid rumors of taking over from Louis van Gaaal, as noted by Sky Sports.
“There is a fit with the people at the club too,” Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, who worked with Pochettino on his book Brave New World, said.
Sir Alex Ferguson is mentioned 28 times in that biography, more than any other name, despite attempts by Spurs to push back and cut those references.
Pochettino previously managed Southampton, Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea before taking the national team role detailed by the Guardian and FOX Sports. During his managerial career, he led Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final, managed Chelsea for the 2023-24 season, and won a Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain.
Earlier coverage: Manchester United Reach Agreement for Pochettino if Carrick Departs, Reports The Guardian
