Mauricio Pochettino appointed Manchester United head coach on 2½-year deal

Manchester United confirmed that Mauricio Pochettino, 54, will take over as head coach on a 2½-year contract. The Argentine left his role as United States men’s national team head coach after the club activated a $10 million release clause in his contract.

Pochettino, who previously managed Southampton, Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, will make his United debut when the team travels to Anfield to face Liverpool on November 22. He succeeds Michael Carrick, who was dismissed after 15 games of a two-year deal signed in May.

Club chief executive Omar Berrada said the appointment was the "unanimous choice" of the leadership team and was approved by minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family. Sources told ESPN that Pochettino was the only candidate directly approached during the search.

United’s statement praised Pochettino’s "high-intensity, attacking style of football" and his record of developing players, adding that the club expects him to improve the squad’s performance, which currently sits 18th with one league win.

Pochettino will finish the United States’ two matches against Haiti during the international break before joining United at Carrington on Wednesday. The U.S. Soccer federation thanked him for his contributions, with CEO JT Batson noting that Pochettino "raised standards, strengthened our culture and created clearer connections from the Youth National Teams to the senior team."