Pochettino expected to take over at Manchester United as Carrick exit looms

Manchester United are expected to appoint Mauricio Pochettino after a meeting in Monaco, with Michael Carrick set to leave as head coach, BBC Sport reports. The move would end a decade of speculation linking the Argentine to Old Trafford, but comes as United sit in the Premier League relegation zone and face questions over the club’s direction.

Pochettino, currently coach of the United States, has been linked with United at several managerial changes since 2016. He was considered when Louis van Gaal and José Mourinho were dismissed, and was reportedly on the shortlist before Erik ten Hag’s appointments in 2022 and 2024.

The appointment is not yet official. BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty says Carrick’s departure is expected to be confirmed after the Monaco summit, and that Pochettino is poised to take over.

Carrick was made permanent head coach after a successful interim spell, but McNulty argues he has struggled in the role. The report also criticises the club’s handling of his expected dismissal, while noting the discontent among supporters over United’s position in the relegation zone.

Pochettino’s record offers both encouragement and a caveat. He led Tottenham to second in the Premier League in 2016-17 and reached the 2019 Champions League final, but did not win a trophy in England. His first managerial silverware came at Paris Saint-Germain, where he won the French Cup in 2021 and Ligue 1 in 2022.

At Chelsea, he finished sixth in 2023-24 and reached the FA Cup semi-finals and League Cup final. He left after one season. McNulty points to Pochettino’s reputation for developing players and building energetic teams, while raising questions about how the manager would work with United’s leadership.

Pochettino has previously spoken of his admiration for United. During the United States’ World Cup campaign, he told invited journalists: “One day, your dream comes true. You go to Manchester United.” His assistant Jesús Pérez replied that United should have appointed him earlier; Pochettino answered: “Future. Future.”