The name of Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino has emerged among the most likely candidates to succeed Michael Carrick as manager of the English first football team Manchester United, as the club moves to dismiss the 45-year-old manager following a disastrous start to the season, according to ESPN, citing sources.
United managed only one victory in their first ten Premier League matches, leaving them in the relegation zone, specifically in 18th place on goal difference behind 19th-placed Sunderland, and one point behind last-placed Crystal Palace. United's management is currently assessing Carrick's position after the team's worst start in the Premier League.
Multiple candidates
Although sources confirmed that discussions with Carrick will continue in the coming days, they also pointed to a growing conviction that performance and results demand a change of manager. Pochettino extended his contract with the US national team until 2030 after leading them to the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
A source told ESPN that the former coach of English clubs Tottenham and Chelsea and French club Paris Saint-Germain has a clause allowing him to terminate his contract with the US national team for $10 million, an amount Manchester United would have to pay to secure his services.
Other options
Eddie Howe, the former Newcastle manager, is among the names admired by United officials. German coach Julian Nagelsmann, who is currently without a managerial position, is also among the proposed options, as is Kieran McKenna, with whom the club held interviews for the position in 2024.
However, Pochettino, who has interviewed for the United job on three previous occasions, is viewed as the favorite due to his Premier League experience and personality. Carrick took over United's management mid-last season on a temporary basis and led the team to qualify for the Champions League.
Decline in performance
ESPN sources stated that club management felt Carrick deserved a long-term contract, but officials were shocked by the sharp decline in performance and results this season. After giving him an additional chance last month to turn things around, Carrick managed only one victory in his last four matches.
That sole victory came in the Champions League against Italian club Roma with a 3-2 scoreline. United will play their next match after the international break against Liverpool at Anfield on November 22.
United have not won the Premier League title since the final season of their legendary Scottish manager Alex Ferguson in 2013, despite appointing high-profile coaches such as Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho and Dutch manager Louis van Gaal.
Source: Arriyadiyah newspaper
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