Manchester United have officially announced Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach, handing the 54-year-old Argentine a major Premier League challenge at a club under pressure. Pochettino will start work on 18 November. He joins after United reached an agreement with the US Soccer Federation to release him and his coaching staff from their national-team duties. The Irish Times reports that the compensation package for the move is around 10 million dollars. Pochettino replaces Michael Carrick, who resigned on 12 November.
Key Takeaways: Manchester United confirmed Mauricio Pochettino as head coach, with a start date of 18 November. The US Soccer Federation agreed to release Pochettino and his staff from national-team commitments. The Irish Times reported that the compensation is around 10 million dollars.
The appointment comes during a difficult period for United. After 10 rounds of the current Premier League season, the club has collected just eight points and sits 18th in the table. Carrick, a former United player, had been in charge since January 2026, according to the report; his resignation forced the club to move quickly. Pochettino has been linked with United before. In 2016, Sir Alex Ferguson recommended him to the club hierarchy, but United chose Jose Mourinho. A similar situation arose in 2022, when the club selected Erik ten Hag instead. The report says Pochettino had long wanted to work at United: as a player, when asked which managers he would like to play under, he named only Sir Alex Ferguson. After the 2026 World Cup, he reportedly expected an offer from United, but the club backed Carrick and Pochettino extended his contract with the US national team.
Pochettino began his managerial career at Espanyol in 2009 and later worked at Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur. In 2021 he took charge of Paris Saint-Germain, winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Trophee des Champions. He managed Chelsea in 2023-2024. His teams are known for demanding physical preparation, intense play, strong pressing and defending with a high or mid block. At Tottenham, his side became a symbol of the Premier League’s pressing era alongside Jurgen Klopp’s teams. Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld compared Pochettino’s training sessions to army service; interval running and the Gacon test required extreme endurance, with some players vomiting after sessions. His PSG spell was less consistent, which has been linked to the challenge of applying an intense style to a squad built around experienced stars such as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
Analysts suggest Pochettino’s approach could fit the current United squad: the team lacks energy, while the roster includes young players who could develop under him. Kobbie Mainoo, Carlos Baleba, Amad Diallo and Leny Yoro are among those who may benefit. The immediate priority will be to lift United out of crisis and improve its Premier League position. In the coming days, the club is expected to finalize the coaching staff, set plans for the winter transfer window and prepare the team for its first match under Pochettino.
Source: kun.uz