USMNT’s Mauricio Pochettino favored to replace embattled Manchester United coach
Mauricio Pochettino may be heading back to the Premier League.
The U.S. men’s national team head coach is the favorite to take over as Manchester United manager, with current manager Michael Carrick on the brink of being fired, ESPN reported on Monday evening.
Multiple reports on Monday indicated that Pochettino was among the candidates to replace Carrick at Old Trafford, with Man United inside the relegation zone at the November international break.
Manchester United’s brain trust — co-chairman Joel Glazer, minority owner Jim Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox — are deciding whether or not to move on from Carrick following the ugly start to the Premier League season.
The Independent reported that “moves were afoot” on Monday to bring in Pochettino as Manchester United’s new manager, and talkSPORT described the USMNT head coach as the “leading candidate” to replace Carrick.
The move does appear to interest Pochettino, with the BBC reporting that sources have told the outlet that the former Chelsea and Tottenham manager would be open to taking the job with Man United.
Pochettino signed a four-year contract extension in August with the U.S. men’s national team following a run to the Round of 16 in the World Cup over the summer. It has been widely reported that Pochettino has a release clause in his contract that would make a return to the Premier League possible.
The release clause is believed to be around $10 million, talkSPORT reported.
The flurry of reporting around Pochettino comes as the USMNT open camp just outside of Atlanta in preparation for the quarterfinals meeting in the Concacaf Nations League against Haiti on Nov. 14 and Nov. 17.
Pochettino has interviewed for the manager job at Old Trafford on several occasions over the years, and there are reportedly other candidates that could be of interest to replace Carrick, should the club go that route.
Eddie Howe, Sebastian Hoeness, Antonio Conte and Julian Nagelsmann have also been reported as potential replacements.
The shocking dip in performance by Manchester United this season has put Carrick on the brink of being ousted and the club in a position where it could be relegated, which hasn’t occurred since the 1973-74 season.
Manchester United played to a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday and kicked things into high gear in terms of the possibility of a change of manager for the world-renowned club.
