CONFIRMED: Manchester United announce Pochettino as new manager — takes charge 18 November, first game is Liverpool at Anfield

Photo: Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the USA men's national team · Photo: Bryan Berlin / WikiPortraits, CC BY-SA 4.0 (FILE PHOTO, 28 Mar 2026)

It's official — Pochettino is United's man, and Liverpool is first. He takes over on 18 November after finishing with the USA.

Manchester United have sacked head coach Michael Carrick, the club confirmed on Thursday. United are 18th in the Premier League — in the relegation zone — with eight points from 10 games, their worst start to a top-flight season in 40 years.

Pochettino will remain in charge of the USA for their two-legged CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final against Haiti (Saturday 14 November in Miami and Tuesday 17 November in Cincinnati) before taking charge at United on 18 November. His first match is the trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday, 22 November. In an emotional pre-match press conference, Pochettino said: “I laid the foundations and I leave with a clear conscience,” and thanked US players and fans. The release clause was reported at about $10m (£7m); United's announcement carried no quote from a club representative, out of respect for the fact that Pochettino remains a US Soccer employee until the end of the month's national-team duties.

Carrick is the seventh permanent manager dismissed since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013; Pochettino is the eighth permanent appointment. Gary Neville publicly backed the choice.

Update, 13 Nov 2026 (evening): Manchester United have formally announced Pochettino as head coach on a two-and-a-half-year deal to June 2029. He takes charge on 18 November; his first game is Liverpool at Anfield on 22 November. The appointment is now confirmed.

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