Manchester United have appointed Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract after dismissing Michael Carrick following a disappointing start to the 2026/27 season.
The agreement will keep the 54-year-old Argentine at Old Trafford until June 2029. He will formally take charge on 18 November, once he has completed his duties with the United States men’s national team.
Pochettino is currently preparing the United States for their two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against Haiti. His first match in charge of Manchester United is scheduled to be an imposing visit to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday, 22 November.
That will leave him only a few days to work with his new squad before one of English football’s biggest rivalries.
United confirmed the appointment in a statement which praised Pochettino’s record and managerial approach.
“The Argentinian 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 arrives with Manchester United in 18th place in the Premier League, having collected only eight points from their opening 10 matches.
Carrick was removed from his position on Thursday, 12 November 2026, after being unable to sustain the strong form that helped United finish third in the previous campaign.
The former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager brings extensive experience of English football to Old Trafford. During his time at Tottenham, he led the club to the 2019 Champions League final.
He also guided Southampton to their highest points total in the Premier League during the 2013/14 campaign, setting a club record in the process.
Pochettino later moved to Paris Saint-Germain, where he won the Ligue 1 title and French Cup before taking charge of Chelsea.
His appointment gives United a manager with experience of competing at the highest level in both domestic and European football, as well as a reputation for developing players and creating organised, high-energy teams.
The immediate challenge, however, will be to improve a side that has struggled during the opening weeks of the season. His first opportunity to do so will come against Liverpool, with the new head coach having to prepare for the fixture while completing his international commitments.
