Pochettino to join Manchester United on Thursday after honouring USMNT commitments against Haiti

Mauricio Pochettino is set to begin work as Manchester United manager on Thursday after fulfilling his remaining obligations with the United States men’s national team, giving him just three days to prepare for a Premier League visit to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, 22 November.

Pochettino was lined up to replace Michael Carrick following the latter’s sacking on Thursday morning, after a meeting in Monaco between Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox. Personal terms between Pochettino and United have already been agreed, though the club still has logistical details to finalise before the appointment is formalised.

The Argentine intends to oversee the USMNT’s two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against Haiti before crossing the Atlantic. The United States play the first leg in Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday, then host Haiti in Cincinnati on Wednesday. Pochettino will fly directly from Cincinnati to Manchester immediately after the second leg, according to the Manchester Evening News.

United will pay US Soccer $10 million (£7.4m) to release Pochettino from the four-year contract he signed in August. The club will also pay further compensation to bring across his coaching staff, including long-time assistant Jesús Pérez.

The managerial change has triggered a near-total overhaul of the coaching setup at Carrington. Assistant goalkeeping coach Connor King is the only member of the first-team staff to retain his position. Carrick’s team — Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans, Travis Binnion and Craig Mawson — have all departed.

Pochettino is due to address the media at the US training base near Atlanta on Friday, where further details of his United appointment are expected to emerge.

The 54-year-old had only signed a new deal with the USMNT in August following the United States’ last-16 exit at the 2026 World Cup qualifying cycle, but he has never concealed his desire to return to the Premier League. He has previously managed Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea in England, and has been interviewed by United on three separate occasions — most recently in 2024 — making Thursday’s appointment the culmination of a long-standing mutual interest.