According to a report by FootballTransfers on Monday, 9 November 2026, as Michael Carrick's future with Manchester United becomes more cloudy, Mauricio Pochettino has risen to prominence as a potential successor to Carrick as manager.

The former Tottenham manager's chances of becoming United's manager have diminished, and he is now considered one of the bookmakers' favorites, alongside Eddie Howe.

Recent improvements in results, such as a 3-2 comeback win over Roma and an entertaining 4-4 draw against Aston Villa, have left Carrick's future uncertain.

But with only one league win in their first ten matches, United's dismal Premier League campaign has kept fans on edge.

With eight points, United are currently in the relegation zone and under increasing pressure on Carrick to salvage the situation, as they sit in 18th place in the league.

After October's 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth, the former United midfielder's position was already under scrutiny. Speculation about possible successors has persisted, despite his survival of that setback.

Before Pochettino's rise to prominence, Julian Nagelsmann and Howe were among the most prominent contenders for the managerial position.

After five years in charge of Tottenham, during which time they finished second in the Premier League and advanced to the Champions League final in 2019, the Argentine is still highly esteemed in English football.

After that, he was the manager of Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain before being named US national team manager in 2024.

Problematically, he extended his contract with the United States national team in August, ensuring his continued leadership until the 2030 World Cup, which could make his appointment at Old Trafford difficult.

"The passion we experienced from the fans throughout the World Cup only strengthened our belief in what is possible here," Pochettino said after opting to the extension.

"We are thrilled about the chance to apply our expertise to even more facets of U.S. Soccer and assist in enhancing the pathways for teams, players, and coaches throughout the Federation. We look forward to sharing our knowledge with yours."

Manchester United have been rumored to be interested in Pochettino on multiple occasions; however, his current international commitments may make a transfer impossible.

Although United's dismal league position means the pressure to improve results is unlikely to go away, Carrick is still in charge for the time being.