Manchester United have established a framework agreement with Mauricio Pochettino to take over as head coach should the club decide to dismiss current manager Michael Carrick. Senior executives, including director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada, have formally recommended to minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe that Carrick be relieved of his duties following a sequence of poor results. Pochettino wants to leave USA role for United.
Ratcliffe, who oversees the club’s sporting policy, is meeting with Wilcox and Berrada in Monaco to discuss the transition. A board meeting is slated for Wednesday where representatives for the Glazer family are expected to ratify the decision, with an announcement potentially following shortly after. Within the squad, there is a growing expectation that a change in leadership is imminent.
Pochettino, who is currently under contract as the US men’s national team head coach through 2030, has expressed a desire to return to the Premier League. His existing deal includes a release clause valued at approximately $10 million, though the final compensation package for United would increase should he opt to bring his long-term assistant, Jesús Pérez, along with his coaching staff. Although the compensation United would have to pay will be higher if the Argentinian brings his own staff, including his longtime assistant and confi, pochettino’s contract contains a release clause of about $10m (£7.5m). Although the compensation United would have to pay will be higher if the Argentinian brings his own staff, including his longtime assistant and confidant Jesús Pérez, who has worked with Pochettino for 16 years, pochettino’s contract contains a release clause of about $10m (£7.5m).
Despite his current responsibilities with the US side—which include upcoming Concacaf Nations League matches against Haiti in Miami and Cincinnati—Pochettino remains the primary target. The US team recently cancelled media access, citing Veterans Day for the schedule shift. Pochettino has previously managed Southampton, Tottenham, and Chelsea. Their first competitive fixtures of the 2030 World Cup qualifyin, pochettino is due to take charge of the US in Concacaf Nations League matches against Haiti on Saturday and Wednesday in Miami and Cincinnati respectively.
Carrick’s tenure has been marked by significant struggle, leaving the team in the relegation zone. The manager has achieved only three wins across all competitions, with a lone league victory coming against Ipswich in August. The club also suffered an early exit from the Carabao Cup after a defeat to Brighton in September. Against Ipswich in August, and three in all competitions, the 45-year-old has won only one game in the league.
