Mauricio Pochettino is on the verge of becoming the new manager of Manchester United, bringing an end to a decade-long connection with the club as Michael Carrick prepares to leave his post following a decisive meeting in Monaco.
A Decade-Long Courtship
Pochettino’s association with Manchester United dates back to May 2016, when he was seen leaving a lunch meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson at Scott’s restaurant in Mayfair. At the time, Ferguson had been retired for three years, while Pochettino was managing Tottenham Hotspur and earning praise for his intense, attacking style of play, which Ferguson admired. Pochettino later described the encounter as a meeting between a genius and an apprentice.
Following that initial meeting, Pochettino was frequently mentioned as a candidate whenever the Old Trafford job became vacant. His name was linked with the role when Louis van Gaal was dismissed in May 2016, when Jose Mourinho left in December 2018, when Erik ten Hag was appointed in April 2022, and again when the Dutchman was sacked in October 2024. Even while coaching the USA national team, whom he led at the summer World Cup, United remained on his mind. During a press gathering in California, Pochettino turned to his assistant, Jesus Perez, and remarked that one day their dream of joining Manchester United would come true.
The Challenge at Old Trafford
The incoming manager will inherit a squad shaped by six previous managers and plagued by years of poor decision-making, leaving the club currently positioned in the Premier League relegation zone. Before Pochettino’s appointment can be finalized, the club must address the departure of Carrick. At 45, Carrick struggled after stepping up from his interim role to permanent head coach, and the club’s leadership—including part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada, and director of football Jason Wilcox—faced criticism for the handling of his impending exit given his history as a successful player and his commitment to the club.
Pochettino’s arrival sits between the approach of appointing former club favorites with limited managerial track records, such as Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and hiring proven winners from the past, like Van Gaal and Mourinho. Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, who co-authored the book Brave New World with Pochettino, noted that the manager has long held a deep appreciation for the club, recalling that he attended the 1999 Champions League final and featured numerous references to Ferguson in his biography.
Managerial Record and Outlook
During his time in England with Tottenham, Pochettino established a strong record of consistency, never finishing lower than fifth in a full campaign, reaching the Champions League final in 2018-19, and securing second place in the 2016-17 season. He later claimed his first managerial trophies with Paris St-Germain, winning the 2021 French Cup and the 2022 Ligue 1 title, before a single season at Chelsea where he reached the FA Cup semi-finals and the League Cup final.
Known as a builder, Pochettino developed Harry Kane and brought Son Heung-Min to Tottenham, while also helping Cole Palmer score 25 goals in 45 appearances during his spell at Chelsea. Balague highlighted that Berrada was previously an advocate for Pochettino when Manchester City considered candidates to succeed Pep Guardiola. Pochettino will now work alongside Ratcliffe, Berrada, and Wilcox as he looks to bring his attacking style and competitive drive to Old Trafford.
Reflecting on his lunch with Ferguson years ago, where the two argued over the bill and Ferguson challenged him to name an Argentine goalscorer from the 1930 World Cup final—a challenge Pochettino won by naming Guillermo Stabile—both men will now look to see if the manager can deliver success on a much larger scale at Manchester United.
