Manchester United Confirm Pochettino as Head Coach from November 18

MANCHESTER, November 13, 2026 — Manchester United have confirmed that Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to become the club’s men’s head coach from November 18, bringing a rapid close to the search that began when Michael Carrick was dismissed on Thursday.

In a club statement published on Friday, United said they had reached an agreement with the U.S. Soccer Federation for Pochettino and his staff to be released once their responsibilities with the United States men’s national team are complete. The official announcement set his start date as November 18.

“The Argentinian is renowned for his high-intensity, attacking style of football, his dedication to building strong, cohesive teams and his outstanding record of developing individual players,” the statement said. United summarised his record across Spain, England, France and the international game, and noted that he had most recently led the US side to the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup.

The appointment replaces Carrick, who left on Thursday after what the club had described as a disappointing start to the season. BBC Sport reported that United were in the Premier League relegation zone at the time of the change. According to sources cited by BBC Sport, Pochettino has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract until June 2029. The Guardian and the Associated Press reported that his first match in charge is due to be the trip to Liverpool on Sunday, November 22.

Pochettino will first finish his work with the United States. The Guardian reported that he is due to take charge of two Concacaf Nations League fixtures, on Saturday and Tuesday, before moving to Old Trafford. The club’s own statement did not list those fixtures, but made clear that the coaching staff would only be released after their national-team duties had ended.

United set out a concise account of his club career. Pochettino began coaching at Espanyol in 2009, later joined Southampton and, the club said, achieved a club-record Premier League points tally in 2014. Across five full seasons at Tottenham Hotspur he established the side as regular UEFA Champions League contenders, securing qualification in four consecutive seasons and leading Spurs to their first Champions League final in 2019. He joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Trophée des Champions, before taking charge of Chelsea in 2023.

On Friday, Pochettino issued a farewell message about his time in the United States, quoted by The Guardian. “The opportunity to represent the USA crest was one of the greatest honours of my career,” he said. “We are so grateful to the players for their commitment, to the fans for their belief, and to the federation for always supporting our staff and creating the opportunities to impact the culture of soccer in this great country.” He thanked federation officials Cindy Parlow Cone, JT Batson and Dan Helfrich, and said the US teams would “always have a special place in our hearts”.

United’s statement on Carrick’s departure had recalled that he rejoined the club in January and guided the team to a third-placed Premier League finish last season. Friday’s confirmation now hands Pochettino, a former Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea manager, the task of lifting a side that has struggled badly this season, with little time to settle before the fixture list resumes.

The club have presented him as a coach with a defined style and a record of developing players. His first days at Carrington will show how quickly that approach can be installed. Liverpool away, if the reporting of his first fixture is confirmed in club terms, would be a stern opening examination.

Source: Manchester United club statement; BBC Sport; The Guardian; Associated Press.

Credit : Manchester United

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