ST. PAUL, MN - OCTOBER 6: Mauricio Pochettino, Head Coach of the USA during a game between Canada and United States at Allianz Field on October 6, 2026 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

ISI Photos via Getty Images

By the time Manchester United plays its next match away to Liverpool in the Premier League on November 22nd, there’s a strong chance the club will have hired a new manager. At the very least, it seems likely Michael Carrick will have been dismissed from his position, if the latest reporting is to be believed.

That same reporting claims Manchester United is finalising an agreement with US men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino to take over at Old Trafford. Pochettino has been linked with the club numerous times in the past. Now, it could be the case that the Argentine is finally set to be United manager.

Pochettino ticks a lot of boxes. He will bring the natural intensity and energy that Manchester United has desperately lacked so far this season. The Argentine wants his players to operate at peak physical fitness and so United’s players should prepare themselves for their workload to increase.

At Tottenham Hotspur, Pochettino built a team good enough to reach a Champions League final in 2019 despite the North London club not spending much in the transfer market. This is another quality that has surely drawn Manchester United to Pochettino such is its financial limitations at the moment.

As USMNT head coach, Pochettino reset the culture within the locker room. He brushed away the complacency that had built up under his predecessor Gregg Berhalter and instilled a competitiveness and hunger within his players. That was evident in some of the USA’s performances at the 2026 World Cup.

Some supporters might argue that Pochettino has been out of the club game for too long. At Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, the Argentine struggled to make much of an impact, albeit with mitigating circumstances. Pochettino left Spurs seven years ago and many fans view that as his peak as a manager.

Over a number of years, the Manchester United job is one that Pochettino has courted. The Argentine is close to Sir Alex Ferguson and has spoken of his admiration for the Old Trafford club at various points. It’s not surprising that Pochettino has had his head turned by the interest from the Premier League.

There’s good reason to suggest Pochettino is the right man for the job at Old Trafford, but many have failed as Manchester United manager since the retirement of Ferguson 13 years ago. This isn’t a club that is currently conducive to managerial success. Pochettino might be taking on an impossible job.