Mauricio Pochettino's likely arrival at Old Trafford is not just another managerial appointment for the English giants; it's the installation of an identity the club has been crying out for decades.
Expect a complete tactical overhaul centred around physical prowess and lightning-fast attacks, something United have lacked since the days of Sir Alex Ferguson.
United are hiring a manager with a world-class pedigree in developing talent alongside a lingering reputation for failing when it matters, which represents the ultimate chance for the club to reach the top again.
Manchester United is understood to have reached a verbal agreement with Pochettino to become the new head coach.
This comes after current manager Michael Carrick is set to be sacked in a rather unfortunate case of when, not if.
Pochettino, who is the current coach of the U.S. Men's National team (USMNT), is likely to remain in charge for the current international break as the U.S. faces Haiti in back-to-back games.
But is set to take over the EPL powerhouse, according to Fabrizio Romano and Sky Sports.
🚨 BREAKING: Manchester United have verbally agreed terms in principle with Mauricio Pochettino to become the new head coach.
Negotiations ongoing with US Federation to move forward as $10m release clause is available to get Poch.
Formal steps to follow — then here we go. pic.twitter.com/y5hqUVv699
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 11, 2026
After being appointed head coach of the USMNT in September 2024, Pochettino led the U.S. to a historic 2026 World Cup run by winning their group outright and defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 to mark their first knockout-stage victory since 2002.
In what started as a meeting between Sir Alex and Pochettino in May 2016, rumours of the Argentine managing Manchester United have come and gone for over ten years now.
When José Mourinho was sacked by United in December 2018, Pochettino was reportedly on the verge of joining the Red Devils; however, a massive £42 million ($81 million AUD) release clause from his then employers, Tottenham Hotspur, forced United to opt for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer instead.
Following the sackings of Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick in 2021 and 2022, Pochettino was again interviewed by United to become the next coach, yet no agreement could be reached.
Best known for managing Tottenham Hotspur from May 2014 to November 2019, Pochettino took charge of 293 games for Spurs, winning 160 of those in all competitions.
Consistent top-four finishes in the Premier League, capped by a 2nd-place finish in 2016/17 with 86 points, helped establish Pochettino as a highly promising manager with fantastic ability to develop young talent. His high-pressing style and emphasis on conditioning highlighted Spurs as one of the fittest and most dangerous teams in England at the time.
Pochettino is also the first Tottenham manager to ever lead the London club to a Champions League Final, highlighted by the remarkable semi-final comeback win over Ajax before losing 2-0 to Liverpool in the final.
Despite some fantastic seasons and the development of an amazing team that consisted of the likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, Pochettino's Spurs tenure was overshadowed by the lack of silverware.
The 2019 Champions League Final loss to Liverpool and the 2015 League Cup Final loss to Chelsea meant Pochettino could never get over the final hurdle of bringing a trophy back to Tottenham.
After being sacked by Spurs in November 2019, Pochettino was then hired by PSG in January 2021 in what was a rather underwhelming tenure.
Delivering three trophies, which consisted of the Ligue 1 title, Trophée des Champions and Coupe de France, would be dubbed a successful job for any coach in France; however, for Pochettino, who had the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar Jr. at his disposal, his run at PSG could be considered disappointing.
Losing the 2020/21 Ligue 1 title to Lille and two consecutive Champions League knockout exits ultimately contributed to his eventual axing from the Parisian giants in July 2022.
After signing for Chelsea in July 2023, Pochettino managed the London giants for a single season, finishing 6th in the Premier League and losing the Carabao Cup Final to Liverpool.
With it looking set in stone for Pochettino to take over Manchester United, fans can expect a 4-2-3-1 system built around attacking fluidity to be implemented straight away.
Players such as Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Šeško should see inflated numbers as Pochettino brings a more attacking style of play to Old Trafford.
Young stars Amad Diallo and Shea Lacey could explode under Pochettino, similar to likes of Dele Alli and Cole Palmer, who enjoyed career-best seasons playing under the Argentinian manager.
United may experience a transitional period as players adapt to his gruelling fitness demands and high defensive line, which will likely lead to high-scoring matches as the season unfolds.
Whether it results in the long-awaited resurrection of Manchester United, Pochettino's imminent arrival in Manchester will likely bring fans on another rollercoaster as they search for some much-needed stability.
