Mauricio Pochettino will take over as Manchester United manager on Thursday after overseeing two United States matches against Haiti, following the sacking of Michael Carrick.
Pochettino is lined up to replace Carrick, who was dismissed on Thursday morning. Personal terms have been agreed, with Pochettino keen on the job he has coveted for years, but details remain to be ironed out.
Pochettino to fulfil USMNT duties first
The United States are preparing for their two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarter-final with Haiti, and Pochettino intends to fulfil his obligations with his current employers before crossing the Atlantic. The USMNT play the first leg in Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday before hosting Haiti in Cincinnati on Wednesday.
As reported by Manchester Evening News, Pochettino will leave straight after the second leg, flying from Cincinnati to Manchester. He will begin work with his new team on Thursday, giving him just three days to prepare for the trip to Anfield to play Liverpool on Sunday, November 22.
Compensation and coaching staff changes
United dismissed Carrick on Thursday morning following a meeting in Monaco between Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox. The club will pay US Soccer $10million (£7.4m) to release Pochettino from the four-year contract he signed in August.
United will also pay further compensation to hire Pochettino's coaching staff, including long-time assistant Jesus Perez. There has been a clean sweep of the coaching staff at Carrington, with just one coach keeping his job in the wake of Carrick's dismissal. Assistant goalkeeping coach Connor King is the only member of the first-team coaching staff to stay put, with Carrick's team of Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans, Travis Binnion and Craig Mawson all leaving.
Pochettino's Premier League return
Pochettino will speak to the media at the US training centre just outside Atlanta on Friday when things will become clearer. He only signed a new deal with the USMNT in August after exiting the World Cup in the last-16 at the hands of Belgium.
Despite committing his future to the team, Pochettino has never shied away from his desire to one day return to the Premier League. The 54-year-old has previously managed Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea in the league and has long been considered a future United boss. He has been interviewed on three occasions by United, with 2024 being the most recent flirtation between the manager and club.
