Manchester United are reportedly on the verge of sacking manager Michael Carrick, with Mauricio Pochettino once again being lined up as his successor. The club sit 18th in the Premier League table with just one win from 10 matches, and according to The Athletic, succession plans are already being considered behind closed doors.
Pochettino, currently head coach of the United States national team, has been repeatedly linked with the Manchester United job over the years. One notable moment came in May 2016, when he organised a private lunch with Sir Alex Ferguson at a London restaurant, fuelling speculation that he was being considered to replace Louis van Gaal.
A Friendly Lunch, Not a Job Interview
The meeting between Pochettino and Ferguson was widely interpreted as a sign that the Argentine was being sounded out for the United job. However, the reality was less dramatic. The lunch was understood to be a friendly get-together between two men who had been trying to arrange a social meeting for some time. Pochettino had informed Tottenham of his plans, and the fact they met in broad daylight suggested it was not a secretive encounter.
Any fears among Tottenham supporters that their manager was planning to leave were eased when Pochettino verbally agreed to extend his contract at White Hart Lane. When his new deal was announced, he pointed to Ferguson as an example of what could be achieved with time and stability.
"Sir Alex Ferguson is a very special person. He was given the security to build his legacy at Manchester United," Pochettino said. "But I believe we are special too and we can build it here together."
A Decade of Near-Misses
United ultimately turned to Jose Mourinho that summer, with the board reportedly reluctant to negotiate with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy. Pochettino's name resurfaced in December 2018, when Mourinho was dismissed, but United instead appointed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on an interim basis before making the move permanent.
When Solskjaer was sacked in November 2021, Pochettino was again a contender, but United were told they would have to wait until the end of the 2021/22 season to prise him away from Paris Saint-Germain. The club installed Ralf Rangnick as interim manager before appointing Erik ten Hag permanently.
In 2024, after leaving Chelsea by mutual consent, Pochettino was again considered as United assessed Ten Hag's position following an eighth-place league finish. The club opted to stick with the Dutchman, and by the time he was dismissed, Pochettino had already taken charge of the United States national team.
Timing Could Prove Awkward Again
With Carrick seemingly on borrowed time, Pochettino has once again found himself in the frame for the United job. However, just three months ago, he signed a new four-year contract as United States head coach, committing himself until the 2030 World Cup. Any attempt to lure him away would likely require United to negotiate a sizeable compensation package.
Whether Manchester United are serious about finally landing their long-time managerial target remains to be seen, but after a decade of near-misses, Pochettino could yet get his long-awaited chance to take charge at Old Trafford.
