Manchester United is nearing an agreement to hire United States men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino to replace Michael Carrick as its next manager, according to multiple reports published Wednesday.
United executives spent Tuesday working through personal terms with representatives for the 54-year-old Argentine, The Athletic reported. Although discussions between the club and Pochettino advanced rapidly, Manchester United had not yet contacted U.S. Soccer as of Wednesday morning regarding his release.
Carrick faces dismissal in Monaco meeting
The potential managerial change comes as United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe meets in Monaco on Wednesday with chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox. The Guardian reported that Wilcox and Berrada intend to formally recommend firing Carrick, with a full board meeting featuring representatives of the majority-owning Glazer family scheduled later in the day to ratify the decision.
Carrick’s tenure has unraveled following a dismal start to the English Premier League campaign. Following a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday, United sits in 18th place in the relegation zone with just eight points from 10 league matches, having won one game, drawn five and lost four. United’s lone league victory came against Ipswich in August, and the club was eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Brighton in September, leaving Carrick with just three victories across 15 games in all competitions.
Release clause and coaching staff
Pochettino has long been linked with the Old Trafford post and is reportedly eager to accept the position. He previously managed in England with Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, alongside a stint in France with Paris Saint-Germain. During the summer, he guided the United States to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, where the co-hosts were eliminated in a 4-1 defeat to Belgium.
Hiring Pochettino will require Manchester United to trigger an exit clause in his U.S. Soccer contract, which runs through 2030. According to The Athletic, the buyout is valued at approximately $10 million. Total compensation paid to the American federation is expected to increase if Pochettino brings his longtime backroom staff, including assistant coach Jesús Pérez, who has worked alongside him for 16 years.
What comes next for the U.S. team
The developments come at an inconvenient time for the U.S. program. Pochettino is currently with the squad preparing for two Concacaf Nations League matches against Haiti, scheduled for Saturday in Miami and next Wednesday in Cincinnati. The fixtures mark the opening competitive games of the federation’s 2030 World Cup cycle.
It remains unclear whether Pochettino will oversee the upcoming matches or if Manchester United will accelerate negotiations with U.S. Soccer to complete his appointment before the international window concludes.
