KUALA LUMPUR: Manchester United have reached an agreement with Mauricio Pochettino to take over as head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract, following the dismissal of Michael Carrick.
The Argentine is expected to be formally announced on Friday, according to Sky Sports, although he will only assume charge after completing his commitments with the United States national team, which include two matches against Haiti on Saturday and Wednesday.
Pochettino, who reportedly has a £7 million release clause in his contract with the US team, is set to become United's eighth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
His first match in charge is expected to be the Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield on November 22.
Carrick's departure was confirmed on Thursday, less than six months after he signed a two-year contract running until 2028.
United said they had reached "the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions", following a disappointing start to the campaign.
The club are currently in the relegation zone after collecting just one victory from their opening 10 league matches. Their decision to part ways with Carrick came despite a dramatic 4-4 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday, in which United recovered from two separate deficits after falling 2-0 behind within the opening four minutes.
The decision was reportedly endorsed by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe during a meeting with senior club executives in Monaco. Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox had recommended the change.
United's management is understood to believe that the current squad has sufficient quality to deliver better performances and results.
Carrick initially took over in January 2026 following Ruben Amorim's dismissal, having been appointed on an interim basis until the end of the season.
He subsequently guided United to 12 victories in 17 matches, securing third place in the Premier League and qualification for the Champions League. His performances also earned him a nomination for Premier League Manager of the Season.
However, United's form deteriorated this season, with only three victories in 15 matches ultimately costing him his position.
Several members of Carrick's coaching staff have also departed, including Jonny Evans, Jonathan Woodgate, Steve Holland, Travis Binnion and goalkeeping coach Craig Mawson. Connor King, an assistant first-team goalkeeping coach who joined two months ago, is the only member of the previous coaching setup understood to remain.
Pochettino, who previously managed Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, had been considered for the United position on three earlier occasions.
His appointment comes as the club seeks to improve its fortunes after a series of managerial changes since Ferguson's departure.
Former United captain Gary Neville, meanwhile, has questioned whether another managerial change will address the club's underlying problems.
Speaking to NBC, Neville said United's struggles over the past 12 years suggested that repeatedly changing managers was not the solution.
He argued that weaknesses in recruitment, performance management and leadership across the club's structure had contributed to the failure of successive managers.
Neville said even accomplished and promising coaches had struggled at Old Trafford, adding that stronger leadership and improvements throughout the football organisation were necessary for the club to regain its competitiveness.