Manchester United plan managerial change as talks begin with Mauricio Pochettino

Manchester United have started talks with USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino to take over as manager. Current manager Michael Carrick is expected to lose his job this week following a dismal start to the season.

The Meeting

Carrick's future will be decided at a meeting in Monaco on Wednesday. Chief executive Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox, and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe will attend this planned strategy gathering, where Berrada and Wilcox are expected to recommend that Carrick leaves his role.

Past Talks and Contract

United have spoken to Pochettino about the managerial position on three past occasions. They held talks when Jose Mourinho was sacked in 2018, in 2022 before hiring Erik ten Hag, and again when Ten Hag was dismissed in 2024. Pochettino renewed his contract with the USA team in August. He currently has a release clause of $10m, which is about £7.5m, and his team faces a two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against Haiti.

League Standing

Manchester United currently sit 18th in the Premier League table inside the relegation zone. The team has won only one of their first 10 matches and has not secured a victory since August. This marks the club's lowest league position at this stage of a top-flight season since the 1986-87 campaign, when they stood 20th.

Context

Football clubs often make managerial changes when results drop far below expectations to spark a turnaround in team performance. Relegation zones in top leagues carry huge financial and sporting pressures for big clubs. A release clause allows a coach under contract with another team to leave if a set financial payment is met.