Update
Mauricio Pochettino: Man Utd strike agreement with Michael Carrick's potential successor
Manchester United powerbrokers set to make a final decision on Michael Carrick's future after Wednesday's Monaco summit; Mauricio Pochettino, who has a £7m release clause in the contract he signed with the USA after the World Cup, has been lined up as his replacement
Wednesday 11 November 2026 17:45, UK
Manchester United have reached a verbal agreement in principle with Mauricio Pochettino to take over as head coach.
Michael Carrick took training on Wednesday and officially remains United boss.
He is likely to be relieved of his duties before the end of the week, once Omar Berrada, the chief executive, and Jason Wilcox, the director of football, have returned from their meeting with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco on Wednesday.
Pochettino is then expected to be confirmed as Carrick's replacement sometime afterwards.
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The former Chelsea and Tottenham manager is currently in charge of the USA national team and he could remain in charge for their games on Saturday and Wednesday - both against Haiti - unless an agreement with the US Soccer Federation can be reached to release him earlier.
Pochettino looks set to become United's eighth permanent boss since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson 13 years ago.
The £7m release clause in Pochettino's contract is not thought to be an issue for United.
Berrada and Wilcox met minority owner Ratcliffe at a pre-planned meeting in Monaco to review the club's start to the season.
Carrick was handed a stay of execution after United's 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League last month, but momentum is now gathering behind a change in the dugout.
Why Poch can't turn down Man Utd job
United have held talks over appointing Pochettino on three separate occasions prior to this and came close to appointing him a few times, including in 2022 when they hired Erik ten Hag instead.
Ferguson has long admired Pochettino and often had long conversations with the former Spurs boss following his matches against United.
The pair were pictured at a Mayfair restaurant in May 2016 amid speculation about Pochettino, then Spurs head coach, taking over from Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford. United subsequently chose to appoint Jose Mourinho.
It is understood Pochettino loves his job with the USA but feels he cannot say no to United.
The 54-year-old is ready to return to the Premier League two years after he was sacked by Chelsea. Pochettino considers his time at Stamford Bridge as successful but ultimately feels it was not the right fit.
Man Utd fixtures
Liverpool (A) - Premier League - Sunday November 22, live on Sky Sports
Sporting (A) - Champions League - Wednesday November 25
Brentford (H) - Premier League - Saturday November 28
Newcastle (A) - Premier League - Wednesday December 2, live on Sky Sports
Coventry (H) - Premier League - Saturday December 5
RB Leipzig (H) - Champions League - Tuesday December 8
Man Utd's Poch pursuit comes full circle
Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:
Mauricio Pochettino and Manchester United have a well-established history. One where paths might have crossed long before now, numerous times, but somehow never managed to converge.
Could it be that we are finally to bear witness to the culmination of this elaborate 10-year dance of incompatible circumstances?
The Old Trafford hierarchy have always admired Pochettino from afar. He was on their radar while at Tottenham and again when it was clear his time at Paris Saint-Germain was coming to an end. The Argentine was eventually lured back to the Premier League but instead returned to London, signing with Chelsea.
All along this journey of complicated courtship, United were at play. There have been many sliding-door moments. At the time news broke of Chelsea's interest in Pochettino in 2023, United, coached by Erik ten Hag, had just been ripped to shreds by Sevilla.
The morning after that defeat all the back pages focussed on another humiliating capitulation in Europe. 'What the El was that?' one read. Another lay into the inadequacies of Harry Maguire's performance. No doubt both headlines have been recycled since. At United, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Miraculously, it took another 18 months for the button to be pushed on Ten Hag. Four managers of varying permanency followed. Until another chance, a decade on from the first, has revealed itself to pursue the one that got away. Is this finally right place, right time for Pochettino?
Your views on Poch: 'Right choice 10 managers ago'
Banda6
Poch, nice guy by all accounts. But nice at United means nothing. He'll get eaten alive and spat out. United need a tough bloke to get under the skin of these over paid under performing players.
Gaz W
I don't think any manager in the world will get that team fighting for the title without serious change in recruitment and change at the top we'll be in exactly the same situation in 6-12 months time.
Abu
Another great manager who's going to end up being in the same scenario! Just another manager with the same results! It's the board! Not manager!
Shahzad Aziz
Why bring Poch when the issue are players with high salaries? Currently players have more say at a club then coaches. Players decide who they want to play for you can't make everyone happy.
kesh92
Poch is the Argentine Carrick. What's he going to do any different to Carrick? And Wilcox will be loving it knowing he wont have to buy any players and Poch will just use the youth players. Another circus show about to begin.
Kyle Brookes
Poch is a very good manager, would be very happy with him at United. The fans saying he's not good enough need to stop living in the past. We no longer attract world class managers and let's be honest there's only about 5 left in football.
Stuart J
Right choice about 10 managers ago… which elite club would appoint him now?
