Manchester United have confirmed Mauricio Pochettino as head coach on a contract until the summer of 2029, replacing the sacked Michael Carrick, with the USA coach set to start work next week and make his debut at Liverpool on 22 November.
Manchester, England: Manchester United confirmed Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach on Friday at 14:27 UK time, giving him a contract that runs until the summer of 2029. He replaces Michael Carrick, whom the club sacked on Thursday with the team 18th in the Premier League.
When he starts
Pochettino will first finish his job with the USA, coaching the team’s games against Haiti, which are his last two in charge. Sky Sports News understands United must pay about £7.4m to release him. He is due to meet the club’s bosses in Manchester on Wednesday and take his first training session with the squad on Thursday.
How he was chosen
Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox recommended Pochettino and owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe approved the appointment. Sky reports that he was the only coach the club approached directly. In its statement, the club praised his “high-intensity, attacking style of football” and his record of developing players. The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust urged the club to give him “all the power, resources and tools he needs to succeed”.
The task ahead
United are in the bottom three after 10 league games. Pochettino reached a League Cup final and a Champions League final with Tottenham and won the French Cup and Ligue 1 at Paris Saint-Germain, but has not won a major trophy in England. His first match is away at Liverpool on 22 November. After that United travel to Sporting in the Champions League on 25 November, host Brentford on 28 November, go to Newcastle on 2 December, host Coventry on 5 December and face RB Leipzig at home on 8 December.
