Manchester United Appoint Mauricio Pochettino as Head Coach After Sacking Michael Carrick, Ending His USMNT Tenure

Manchester United announced on Nov. 13 that Mauricio Pochettino will become head coach from Nov. 18 on a contract running to 2029, a day after the club dismissed Michael Carrick with the team in the Premier League relegation zone. Pochettino, in tears as he announced his departure from the U.S. men's national team, will first coach two matches against Haiti before his United debut at Liverpool on Nov. 22.

Nov 13, 2026 - 13:13

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Manchester United announced on Friday, Nov. 13, that Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to become the club's men's head coach from Nov. 18, replacing Michael Carrick, who was dismissed a day earlier with the team in the Premier League relegation zone, according to BBC Sport and Sky Sports. The 54-year-old Argentine will first coach the U.S. men's national team in two final matches against Haiti before moving to Manchester.

BBC Sport reported that Pochettino has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract running until June 2029, and Sky Sports reported that the deal runs until the summer of 2029.

United confirm the appointment

In its statement, quoted by Liverpool.com and Sky Sports, United said it "has reached an agreement with the U.S. Soccer Federation for Mauricio and his staff to be released after the conclusion of their responsibilities with the U.S. Men's National Team." The club described him as "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 statement listed his coaching career, which began at Espanyol in 2009 and continued at Southampton, where he set a club-record Premier League points tally in 2014. During five full seasons at Tottenham Hotspur, he secured Champions League qualification in four consecutive seasons and led the club to its first final in the competition in 2019. He joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Trophée des Champions, before moving to Chelsea in 2023.

BBC Sport, Sky Sports and The Guardian each reported that United will pay a release clause in his U.S. Soccer contract, which they valued at roughly £7 million to £7.5 million. The Guardian put the figure at about $10 million.

Carrick's dismissal

United confirmed Carrick's departure on Thursday, Nov. 12, in a club statement that said: "After a disappointing start to the season, the club has come to the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions." The statement called Carrick "a Manchester United legend" and noted that after rejoining the club in January he guided the team to a third-place Premier League finish by winning 12 of the remaining 17 games of the 2025-26 season.

BBC Sport and The Guardian described the current campaign as United's worst start to a season in four decades. The Guardian reported that Carrick's final match was a 4-4 home draw with Aston Villa, in which United twice came back from two goals down. According to The Guardian and Sky Sports, sporting director Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada met owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco this week ahead of the coaching change.

In a farewell message to supporters, quoted by The Guardian, Carrick wrote: "I want nothing but success for Manchester United. This club has been such a big part of my life and that will never change."

An emotional goodbye to U.S. Soccer

U.S. Soccer announced the same day that Pochettino will leave after the current camp, and that he and his staff will coach the team against Haiti on Nov. 14 and Nov. 17. The Guardian reported that the two matches are Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals.

Pochettino was in tears at a news conference at the federation's national training center in Fayetteville, Georgia, according to BBC Sport, The Guardian and The Associated Press. "It's one of the most difficult decisions of my career," he said, as quoted by BBC Sport. He added that there "aren't too many opportunities that happen in your career like Manchester United," and that "when it arrives, it's difficult to turn down."

Explaining how quickly the move came together, he said contact began on Sunday afternoon and that he informed his players once an agreement was reached, according to BBC Sport. The AP and BBC Sport noted that the departure comes about three months after he agreed to a new contract with U.S. Soccer, which The Guardian reported ran to 2030.

His record with the U.S. team

U.S. Soccer said Pochettino was hired in September 2024 and compiled a record of 21 wins, 12 losses and two draws in 35 matches. Under him, the federation said, the United States reached the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup final, finished first in its group at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil and reached the Round of 16, earning its first knockout-round victory since 2002. With three wins at the tournament, Pochettino recorded the most World Cup wins of any head coach in U.S. men's national team history, according to the federation.

"Mauricio has left a lasting mark on U.S. Soccer through his leadership, professionalism and commitment to our players and culture," U.S. Soccer CEO and Secretary General JT Batson said in the announcement. Batson added that the federation is "looking for a leader with the talent, experience and belief to match our ambition."

What comes next at Old Trafford

Sky Sports reported that Pochettino will begin the role on Wednesday, Nov. 18, and is set to take training for the first time on Thursday. The Guardian also reported that his first day with the squad is expected to be Thursday. His first match in charge will be away to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, Nov. 22, according to BBC Sport, Sky Sports and The Guardian.

Sky Sports and The Guardian published the same schedule for his first six matches: Liverpool away on Nov. 22, Sporting away in the Champions League on Nov. 25, Brentford at home on Nov. 28, Newcastle away on Dec. 2, Coventry at home on Dec. 5 and RB Leipzig at home in the Champions League on Dec. 8.