Manchester United close to Mauricio Pochettino appointment 2026

Key Points

• Manchester United are close to agreeing on the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as head coach, claims the Manchester Evening News.
• Michael Carrick has been sacked by United as their head coach, and ESPN suggests that the former head coach of Spurs had been informed about the same on Thursday morning.
• Pochettino is considered to be United’s number one option and is expected to agree on an initial deal with the club, says the Manchester Evening News.
• United are in touch with United States Soccer Federation to release Pochettino from the post of head coach of the US men’s national team.
• It is claimed that the release clause in the US Soccer’s contract with Pochettino stands at $10 million, around £7.4 million.
• As per ESPN, United are hoping to finalize the agreement with Pochettino on Thursday and trigger the release clause.
• Pochettino will be assisted by his staff including Jesús Pérez, Miguel D’Agostino, goalkeeper coach Toni Jiménez, and his son Sebastiano Pochettino, who is a sports scientist.
• United are set to play a two-legged Concacaf Nations League final against Haiti. This might affect Pochettino’s availability, say sources.
• According to The Independent, the next Premier League match for United is an away game against Liverpool at Anfield on 22 November.
• Athletic claims that Pochettino’s contract with US Soccer goes until the 2030 World Cup.

FC United of Manchester (Manchester Mirror) November 12, 2026 — Manchester United are close to appointing Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach after dismissing Michael Carrick, with the club working to resolve the final terms of his release from US Soccer. The Manchester Evening News reports that an initial agreement has been reached between United and Pochettino’s representatives, while the key contractual terms with US Soccer have also been settled.

What has Manchester United agreed with Pochettino?

As reported by the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United have identified Pochettino as their primary target after deciding earlier in the week that they could no longer continue with Carrick in charge. A high-level meeting in Monaco on Wednesday established the next steps in the process.

The report states that United and Pochettino’s representatives have reached an initial agreement, and that the essential terms of the contract with US Soccer have also been settled. Pochettino’s existing contract includes a release clause valued at $10 million, approximately £7.4 million.

ESPN reports that United hope to complete an agreement with Pochettino on Thursday, before activating the release clause in his contract with the US Soccer Federation. The broadcaster says United have informed US Soccer of their intention to trigger the clause once personal terms are agreed with the 54-year-old.

Why has Michael Carrick been dismissed?

Manchester United dismissed Michael Carrick on Thursday morning, according to ESPN, which reported that chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox informed the former United midfielder of the decision at Carrington.

CNN reported that Carrick’s departure followed a disappointing start to the season, with United struggling in the Premier League’s relegation zone. The club’s decision came after reports that Carrick was expected to leave his role, with BBC Sport reporting on 11 November that United had opened talks with Pochettino about potentially replacing him.

The Manchester Evening News reported that United had determined earlier in the week that they could no longer proceed with Carrick at the helm. The report did not provide a detailed public explanation from the club for the dismissal beyond the broader context of the team’s poor start.

Is Pochettino definitely joining United?

No official appointment has been announced by Manchester United or US Soccer in the reporting available at the time of publication. However, multiple outlets describe the move as close to completion rather than merely speculative.

As reported by BBC Sport, Pochettino wants to take the United job once Carrick’s future is clarified, but intends to remain respectful towards the US Soccer Federation and wait for United to make an official approach. The Athletic reported that United had established formal communication with US Soccer as it sought to finalise an agreement with both Pochettino and the federation before naming Carrick’s successor.

The Manchester Evening News characterised the process as “rapidly evolving”, while noting that complications remain because Pochettino is scheduled to lead the United States in the Concacaf Nations League final against Haiti.

What remains unresolved in the deal?

The principal outstanding issue concerns Pochettino’s immediate availability. The United States face Haiti over two legs in the Concacaf Nations League final, with the first match scheduled for 9:30pm UK time on Saturday and the second in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The Manchester Evening News reports that negotiations with US Soccer concern whether Pochettino will oversee those matches or be released from his contract to begin work at United immediately. The Independent similarly reported that US Soccer were planning for Pochettino to take charge of both games, while United would push for him to become available sooner.

There is also the question of compensation. The reported release clause is $10 million, although reporting has varied slightly on the sterling conversion: the Manchester Evening News and The Athletic cite approximately £7.4 million, while ESPN cites approximately £7 million.

Who could join Pochettino at Old Trafford?

Pochettino is expected to bring several members of his existing coaching group to Old Trafford if the appointment is completed. According to the Manchester Evening News, these include assistant Jesús Pérez, fellow coach Miguel D’Agostino, goalkeeper coach Antonio Jiménez and Pochettino’s son Sebastiano, who works as a sports scientist.

The report does not state that these appointments have been formally confirmed. It instead describes them as arrangements Pochettino is eager to secure as part of his prospective move to United.

When could Pochettino speak publicly?

Pochettino was at the United States national team’s training facility outside Atlanta this week, preparing for the first leg against Haiti. The Manchester Evening News reports that he is expected to conduct a pre-match press conference there at 9:15am local time, or 2:15pm UK time, on Friday.

That appearance may provide the first public indication of how Pochettino views the situation. The report says further clarity could emerge before he addresses the media for the first time that week.

What have other outlets reported?

The reporting across outlets is broadly consistent on the central developments, though it differs on the precise stage of negotiations.

• BBC Sport reported that Pochettino was ready to accept United’s offer to replace Carrick, and that United would need to pay $10 million, approximately £7.5 million, to release him from a contract signed in August.
• ESPN reported that United hoped to seal the deal on Thursday and that Carrick had been informed of his dismissal by Berrada and Wilcox.
• The Athletic reported that United had made formal contact with US Soccer and that the buyout was estimated at around $10 million, or £7.4 million.
• The Independent reported that United were closing in on Pochettino before their next match against Liverpool, and identified the compensation as an initial $7 million, approximately £5.3 million.
• Sky Sports reported that United were close to agreeing a deal with Pochettino, with a buyout of around £7 million not considered an issue for the club.
• AFP reported that United had reached a verbal agreement in principle with Pochettino to replace Carrick.
• CNN reported that Pochettino had reached a preliminary agreement with United, while noting that it remained uncertain who would succeed Carrick.
• The Irish Times reported that United had a framework agreement with Pochettino for him to become head coach if Carrick were dismissed.
• The Daily Mail reported that Carrick had been sacked and that Pochettino was waiting as his likely successor.
• The Evening Standard reported that a deal had been finalised with Pochettino, who would cost $10 million, approximately £7.5 million, to release from his US Soccer contract.

Background of the development

Pochettino has previously managed Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. BBC Sport describes him as a former Tottenham and Chelsea manager, while The Athletic notes that he is currently tied to US Soccer through the 2030 World Cup.

United’s pursuit intensified after the club determined that Carrick could no longer continue in the role. The Athletic reported that United spent Tuesday working on personal terms with Pochettino’s representatives and anticipated no issues, before later making formal contact with US Soccer.

The Athletic also reported that there was no looming deadline from the US men’s national team’s perspective, because qualifying for the 2030 World Cup does not begin until September next year. That distinction matters because United’s urgency appears to be driven by the club’s Premier League situation and the approaching fixture against Liverpool, rather than an immediate contractual deadline at US Soccer.

Prediction: What could this mean for United supporters?

For Manchester United supporters, the likely appointment of Pochettino would represent an immediate change in leadership and a potential shift in the club’s approach to the remainder of the season. If the deal is completed, his first priority would be stabilising a squad that CNN reports has begun the campaign poorly and sits in the Premier League’s relegation zone.

The immediate effect may be limited by the international break. Pochettino’s involvement in the United States’ Concacaf Nations League final against Haiti could delay his full transition to Old Trafford, particularly if US Soccer expects him to lead both matches. United’s next league match is at Liverpool on 22 November, according to The Independent, giving the club a clear first competitive test after the break.

For United supporters, the key issue will be whether the club can complete the release process quickly enough for Pochettino to prepare the team for that fixture. For US supporters, the development raises questions over continuity within the national-team setup, especially with the Concacaf Nations League final approaching and Pochettino contracted through the 2030 World Cup cycle.