Manchester United close to appointing Pochettino as head coach

Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick. The club is close to appointing Mauricio Pochettino as his replacement. Both sides aim to complete the agreement before the Premier League match against Liverpool at Anfield.

According to information obtained by Sky Sports News, the club's executives met with Pochettino two years ago and had considered him as a replacement for Erik ten Hag. That meeting took place after Pochettino left Chelsea in the summer of 2024. However, it was decided at the time that the timing was not right for either side. Ten Hag was dismissed the following October.

Pochettino is viewed as a good team manager and a sound tactician. However, it was thought that his recent period at Stamford Bridge had emotionally drained him. Complex relationships within the squad and a team that needed to be rebuilt also made the timing difficult.

A few weeks ago, the club learned that Pochettino's contract in the United States includes a release fee of £7.4 million. After Pochettino signaled through positive messages that he wanted the Old Trafford job, Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox decided the time was right. The first direct contact with Pochettino was made on Tuesday night. At the same time, a formal request was submitted to the United States Soccer Federation.

Once it became clear that Unai Emery could not be prised away from Aston Villa, the club's leadership fully backed the pursuit of Pochettino. The club is reportedly looking for a coach who can match the size of the squad and shield players from outside 'noise'. The board believes this was the biggest problem faced by Ruben Amorim, the first head coach of the INEOS era. Berrada and Wilcox have long admired Emery, and if Carrick were dismissed, Emery was said to be at the top of their list of candidates.