Mauricio Pochettino seems nearer than ever to assuming control of Manchester United, while Michael Carrick looks set for removal after a gathering that included the club’s top executives in Monaco.
The Argentine has been connected to the Old Trafford position for roughly ten years, surfacing as a possibility each time United have looked for a new boss. Now, with Carrick’s standing becoming increasingly difficult to maintain, that lengthy association may at last result in an official appointment.
Nevertheless, Pochettino would be inheriting a club in significant decline, confronting the task of reconstructing a divided squad and re-establishing the standards anticipated at one of English football’s most prominent institutions.
Mauricio Pochettino’s lengthy Manchester United association
The link between Pochettino and United stretches back to May 2016, when the Argentine was captured in photographs departing a lunch appointment with Sir Alex Ferguson at Scott’s restaurant in Mayfair. At that point, Ferguson had been retired for three years, while Pochettino was building his reputation at Tottenham with an aggressive, high-energy brand of football that caught the attention of the former United boss.
Pochettino subsequently characterised the encounter as “a meeting in London between colleagues, between a genius and an apprentice”. It turned out to be the start of a connection that would repeatedly place his name in conversations regarding the Old Trafford role.
He was evaluated after Louis van Gaal’s removal in 2016 and once more when Jose Mourinho left in December 2018. Pochettino was also among United’s favoured options when Erik ten Hag was hired in April 2022, before appearing again as a possibility after the Dutchman’s exit in October 2024.
The prospect of at last securing the position was even talked about during Pochettino’s tenure with the United States national team. At a gathering with invited journalists at the team’s hotel in California, the Argentine turned to assistant Jesus Perez when United was brought up and remarked: “One day, your dream comes true. You go to Manchester United.”
Perez answered that United ought to have hired him already, causing Pochettino to smile and respond: “Future. Future.” That future now seems to be drawing near.
Man Utd’s managerial turmoil creates a significant challenge
Pochettino’s prospective arrival would occur at an especially testing time for Manchester United. Years of debatable choices, ineffective appointments, and inadequate squad building have left the club battling to resemble the footballing force it previously was.
The present squad has essentially become an assortment of players gathered under six different managers, producing a challenging legacy for whoever assumes control next. Pochettino is recognised for his capacity to reconstruct teams, but the magnitude of the assignment at Old Trafford would be substantial.
In the meantime, the way Carrick’s anticipated exit has been handled has drawn criticism. The 45-year-old secured the permanent role following an encouraging interim period but has found it difficult to show that he is prepared for the requirements of the position. Despite his playing accomplishments, personality, and commitment to improving United, the manner in which his departure has been overseen has become yet another awkward episode.
Part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada, and director of football Jason Wilcox have all encountered scrutiny regarding the situation, with supporters growing increasingly dissatisfied with the club’s trajectory. United’s placement in the Premier League relegation zone has only amplified that frustration.
Pochettino would represent a different path from both the emotional appointments of former favourites such as Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the efforts to achieve instant success through seasoned winners like Van Gaal and Mourinho.
What Pochettino might offer at Old Trafford
There are numerous reasons why Pochettino continues to be an appealing candidate. His tenure at Tottenham showed an ability to create stability, nurture young talent, and assemble teams capable of competing near the summit of the Premier League.
Hired in May 2014 following Tim Sherwood’s exit, he never ended lower than fifth place in a complete season at Spurs. Tottenham placed third in 2015-16, second behind Chelsea in 2016-17 and third once more in 2017-18.
His finest accomplishment in England was guiding Tottenham to the Champions League final in 2018-19. However, the absence of trophies remained a recurring criticism of his managerial CV. Spurs also reached the League Cup final in 2014-15 and the FA Cup semi-finals on two separate occasions.
Pochettino ultimately gathered his first managerial silverware at Paris Saint-Germain, securing the French Cup in 2021 and Ligue 1 in 2022. Even so, expectations at the French club were considerably greater, and he did not see out his contract. His later spell at Chelsea likewise yielded limited concrete success, with an FA Cup semi-final showing and a loss in the League Cup final during the 2023-24 campaign.
His standing as a developer of talent remains among his greatest strengths. Harry Kane prospered under his direction at Tottenham, while Son Heung-Min joined from Bayer Leverkusen for merely £22m in 2015 and developed into another remarkable success.
Cole Palmer also experienced an outstanding season under Pochettino at Chelsea, netting 25 goals in 45 outings. Replicating that kind of individual progress at United would be a crucial element of the rebuilding process.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe confronts a crucial decision
Pochettino’s appointment would additionally introduce an intriguing dynamic between the Argentine and United’s leadership. He is recognised for holding firm views and desiring considerable sway over footballing matters, something that could prove significant in his relationship with Ratcliffe, Berrada, and Wilcox.
There are already signs that he has supporters within the club’s hierarchy. Guillem Balague, who worked with Pochettino on his book Brave New World, disclosed that Berrada has long valued the Argentine’s attributes.
Balague also noted that Pochettino’s appreciation for United extends far beyond his recent managerial connections. He was present at the stadium when the club lifted the Champions League in 1999, while Sir Alex Ferguson is referenced 28 times in his biography, more than any other person.
According to Balague, Tottenham sought to decrease the number of mentions of Ferguson, but Pochettino insisted that they stay unchanged. It was another sign of how significant United had become to him.
The Argentine’s exit from Tottenham also showed that he would not merely accept a restricted role. His relationship with the club’s hierarchy worsened after he made clear that he desired greater influence, with a friendly win over Real Madrid shortly after the Champions League final defeat marking a key moment in the mounting tension.
Pochettino is generally viewed as a manager who cultivates close bonds with his players and helps them develop. However, he can also be inflexible when required. His reaction to criticism over not personally reaching out to players left out of the United States’ World Cup squad demonstrated that aspect of his character.
He clarified that he had not wanted his own manager to call him when he missed out on a squad as a player, questioning what benefit an apology would provide.
That blend of strong man-management, ambition, and a readiness to make tough calls could be valuable at Old Trafford. Pochettino would need all of it to reverse United’s fortunes.
There is also a memorable detail from his first encounter with Ferguson in 2016. The two argued over who should settle the lunch bill, with the Scot daring Pochettino to identify an Argentine goalscorer from the 1930 World Cup final. The Tottenham manager produced Guillermo Stabile and won the dispute.
Nearly ten years on, Pochettino could have the chance to achieve something considerably greater at Manchester United.