Manchester United Confirm Mauricio Pochettino as New Head Coach — but Not Before Two Final Matches with the USA

Manchester United have officially confirmed the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as the club's new first-team head coach, ending months of speculation and handing the Argentine the task of rescuing a season in crisis. Pochettino will not arrive at Old Trafford immediately, however: he will first take charge of the United States for their two Concacaf Nations League quarter-final fixtures against Haiti before formally linking up with his new club on November 18.

The 54-year-old succeeds Michael Carrick, who was dismissed earlier this week after a dismal start to the season that left the Red Devils languishing in the Premier League relegation zone. Pochettino has signed a contract until June 2029, with reports indicating United will pay significant compensation to U.S. Soccer to secure his release.

Two Final Matches with the USA

Before taking the reins at Old Trafford, Pochettino will oversee the USA's two Concacaf Nations League quarter-final fixtures against Haiti. The first leg is scheduled for Saturday in Miami, followed by the second leg in Cincinnati next Tuesday. These are competitive matches rather than friendlies, with a place in the Nations League semi-finals at stake, adding sensitivity to the timing of the announcement. Pochettino is expected to address the media in the USA on Friday before the first leg.

Compensation and Contract Details

United have agreed to pay approximately $10 million (£7.4 million) to buy out Pochettino's contract with U.S. Soccer, plus a further $2 million in compensation for his backroom staff, who will also make the move to Manchester. The total package exceeds £10 million. Pochettino's salary is understood to be competitive and higher than the £5 million-per-year deal earned by his predecessor, Carrick.

A Daunting Debut Awaits

Pochettino's first match in charge will be a daunting trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday, November 22. He is expected to meet his new players and take his first training session on Thursday, November 19, leaving precious little time to prepare for one of the most intense fixtures in English football.

From World Cup Host to Old Trafford

Pochettino joins United after a two-year spell with the USMNT, which he led to the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup on home soil before a heavy 4-1 defeat to Belgium ended their campaign. He had signed a contract extension through to the 2030 World Cup just three months ago, but the opportunity to return to Premier League management—and to a club he has been linked with for years—proved decisive. During his time with the USA, he recorded 21 wins, 12 losses and two draws across 35 matches.

A Track Record of Building Projects

United's official statement highlighted Pochettino's "high-intensity, attacking style of football" and his "outstanding record of developing individual players." The club pointed to his work at Tottenham Hotspur, where he established them as regular Champions League contenders and led them to the 2019 final, as well as his subsequent spells at Paris Saint-Germain—where he won Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Trophée des Champions—and Chelsea.

Pochettino inherits a United side in crisis. Carrick, who replaced Ruben Amorim in January initially on an interim basis before being awarded a permanent deal in May, oversaw the club's worst-ever start to a Premier League season, leaving them in the bottom three after ten matches. The Argentine will be expected to arrest that slide immediately, with a January transfer window likely to provide backing for reinforcements in defence and attack.