Man United set to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as head coach: Club make formal approach to
Manchester United are set to name Mauricio Pochettino as head coach to replace Michael Carrick following a day of talks over both men.
United moved closer to putting Pochettino in charge at Old Trafford after reaching a verbal agreement with the US national team boss on Wednesday. The club then made a formal approach to US Soccer.
Meanwhile, the club’s chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox flew back from Monaco, where minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was expected to ratify their decision to sack Carrick with the blessing of co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer.
Carrick’s departure could be confirmed on Thursday, but official confirmation of Pochettino’s appointment may take a little longer with more talks planned overnight on Wednesday.
Pochettino is currently at the US Soccer base outside Atlanta preparing for a CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final double header against Haiti, and is due to speak to the media on Friday.
It’s unclear if he will remain in charge for those games, with United said to be relaxed over the Argentine taking the team. It is possible he could stay for the first leg in Kingston, Jamaica at the weekend and then travel to Manchester.
Manchester United are set to name Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager – but he took training as usual on Wednesday
Pochettino, who has managed Southampton,Tottenham, and Chelsea, will succeed Michael Carrick
Carrick checked in at Carrington at 7.45am on Wednesday with his fate in the balance
He was pictured leaving Manchester United’s training base at around 1.15pm
Pochettino is pictured working on United States national team duty on Tuesday (Source: X/USMNT)
The second leg is Cincinnati is not until the early hours of Thursday, and Pochettino may even would only take over at United on Friday with a huge game against Liverpool at Anfield 48 hours later.
It’s understood that the US Soccer Federation are ready for this contingency and have a succession plan in place should he leave.
It will cost Pochettino around £7million to buy himself out of his contract with the US Soccer Federation, with United ready to foot the bill.
The cost of bringing in his back-room team, including trusted assistants Jesus Perez and Miguel D’Agostino, will take the cost above £10m.
The 54-year-old only signed a new deal after the World Cup meaning that United could have got him for nothing in the summer.
Amid the secret talks between United and Pochettino’s camp on Wednesday, there was more intrigue when the federation cancelled media access to the players at late notice but allowed cameras to film an open training session.
Sources said the decision was made out of respect for Veterans Day in America, but it also meant the players didn’t have to field any awkward questions over their coach’s future.
Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams was quoted by the US media as saying: ‘Why would his name not be on it (United’s list)?
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox are meeting in Monaco for talks today
The United execs meet in Monaco today (Pictured is the Casino Monte-Carlo in Monaco)
‘I mean, the credibility, the resume speaks for itself. It goes to show for us how lucky we are to be able to work under a manager of his quality and the person he is.’
Meanwhile, Berrada and Wilcox flew back to Manchester from Nice on Wednesday with United expected to announce Carrick’s departure imminently after 10 months in charge.
The 45-year-old took training at Carrington for the second day running, arriving at 7.45am and leaving shortly after 1.30pm.
However, it has been clear for some days that Carrick would lose his job after United dropped into the relegation zone following the club’s worst start in 40 years.