Manchester United Appoints Mauricio Pochettino as New Manager After Sacking Michael Carrick
Manchester United has confirmed the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager following the dismissal of Michael Carrick. The decision was announced on Thursday after United’s performance saw them drop to 18th place in the league heading into the international break, achieving only one win from their first 10 games this season.
The club has reportedly agreed to pay an initial compensation of $7 million (£5.3 million) to US Soccer to release Pochettino from his contract, which extended until the 2030 World Cup. Additional payments will also be necessary for his coaching staff, including his long-time assistant, Jesus Perez.
Pochettino expressed his gratitude upon the announcement of his transition to Manchester, stating, “The opportunity to represent the USA crest was one of the greatest honors of my career.” He thanked the players, fans, and the Federation for their unwavering support during his tenure and highlighted the growth and potential he sees within U.S. Soccer.
He will guide the U.S. team in two upcoming Concacaf Nations League matches against Haiti during the international break, with the first match scheduled for November 14 and the second on November 18 in Cincinnati. Following these matches, he will officially join Manchester United on November 18 ahead of their Premier League clash against Liverpool on November 22.
While Pochettino’s departure is seen as a loss for US Soccer, The Independent has reported that the organization had anticipated this move and has a succession plan in place for the future.
Arriving at a beleaguered Manchester United, Pochettino faces the challenge of revitalizing a team that has struggled this season. After only managing one victory against Ipswich Town and accumulating a mere eight points from ten matches, the pressure is on for the new manager.
Carrick maintained support from the fanbase despite the team’s poor run, with anxiety mainly directed at the club’s ownership and board members. However, management decided to terminate his role after recent crisis talks in Monaco.
Pochettino last served as a manager in the Premier League during the 2023/24 season with Chelsea, where he led the team to a sixth-place finish despite mid-table struggles throughout the season. He departed by mutual consent at the conclusion of that campaign.
Before his time at Chelsea, Pochettino enjoyed a five-year spell at Tottenham, guiding the club to the Champions League final in 2019. He also spent 18 months at Paris Saint-Germain, clinching the Ligue 1 title in the 2021/22 season.
Most recently, he led the USA to the last-16 at the home World Cup this summer, though his tenure was marked by controversy, including a notable incident involving striker Folarin Balogun, whose red card was controversially rescinded after intervention from Donald Trump.
