Manchester United appoint Pochettino after Carrick sacking
The Argentine leaves the US men's national team after two years and takes over a club with one win from 10 league games, on a deal reported through 2029.
Manchester United appointed Mauricio Pochettino as manager on Friday, tasking the Argentine with reviving a club that has won once in 10 Premier League matches this season. Pochettino, 54, is leaving the United States men's national team after two years. He will stay with the US squad for CONCACAF Nations League matches against Haiti on Saturday and next Tuesday before starting at Old Trafford.
The Buenos Aires Times reported that Pochettino is understood to have signed a two-and-a-half-year deal through to the end of the 2028/29 season. The newspaper also reported that US Soccer is set to receive US$10 million in compensation, plus US$2 million for the departure of Pochettino's coaching staff.
United said the club had reached an agreement with the US soccer federation for Pochettino and his staff to be released after their responsibilities with the US men's national team. "The Argentine is renowned for his high-intensity, attacking style of football, his dedication to building strong, cohesive teams and his outstanding record of developing individual players," the club said.
Pochettino told reporters in the United States that the move was "one of the most difficult" decisions of his career. "We learned a lot from you all, from this amazing country," he said. "To the staff and the players, I want to say thank you so much for the last two years." He said he never said he wanted to return to the Premier League, but described the chance to manage United as too big to turn down. "Not too many opportunities can happen in your career with a side like Manchester United," he said.
Pochettino led the US to the last 16 of this year's World Cup on home soil. He had signed a four-year contract extension in August to coach through the 2030 World Cup.
United dismissed Michael Carrick after the club's worst start to a Premier League season. The club won one of its opening 10 matches and dropped into the relegation zone before the international break. Carrick was the seventh permanent manager dismissed since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
The Buenos Aires Times reported that captain Bruno Fernandes was dropped last month after criticising Carrick's tactics, that Lisandro Martinez publicly criticised the hierarchy over a lack of investment, and that Fernandes is understood to have rejected a second contract offer. Fans have protested the Glazer family's majority ownership for two decades. Jim Ratcliffe bought a minority stake in 2024.
Pochettino's first match in charge is at Liverpool on November 22. Carrick said on Instagram that he had "the immense privilege of leading Manchester United, the football club that I love" and wished the club "nothing but success."
How the reports differ
The Associated Press led with Pochettino tearfully leaving the US job to revive a former power. Sky Sports focused on the inside details of United's continued pursuit of Pochettino. Ahram Online headlined the hire as Pochettino leaving the US job with the task of reviving a former power. The Guardian's Football Daily framed the move as another big adventure, while the Buenos Aires Times carried Pochettino's quotes, the reported compensation and the details of United's decline.
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