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Mauricio Pochettino appears set to be confirmed as the next Manchester United manager, with Michael Carrick potentially being dismissed this week—though a final call on that matter has yet to be made.
It has been a lengthy journey to arrive at this moment, with Pochettino—looking back—arguably the most suitable candidate to succeed David Moyes at Old Trafford all the way back in 2014.
United opted for experienced champion Louis van Gaal over the then-emerging Argentine, who went on to join Tottenham Hotspur instead, and the timing never quite worked out until now. The Red Devils have maintained ties to Pochettino at various points over the last 12 years, most notably in 2016 when Van Gaal faced mounting pressure, and again in 2018 and 2021.
Yet while Pochettino was employed during each of those windows—at Tottenham and later Paris Saint-Germain—it appears United also actively passed on him on two further occasions more recently.
Speaking on The Athletic FC podcast this week, journalist David Ornstein revealed that Pochettino was among the "final two" candidates in May 2022 when the club chose to appoint Erik ten Hag following his standout tenure at Ajax. At that stage, Pochettino was departing PSG after 18 months that yielded three trophies but concluded in disappointment. United also looked elsewhere in 2024.
Pochettino was available that summer, having parted ways with Chelsea by mutual consent at the conclusion of the 2023–24 season following clashes with the club's sporting hierarchy. United were actively weighing their options to replace Ten Hag, whose tenure had failed to meet expectations.
The former Espanyol, PSG and Argentina centre-back was among a number of candidates the club held discussions with, before the decision was made to retain Ten Hag. Pochettino subsequently took charge of the United States men's national team with U.S. Soccer, and it was then Ruben Amorim—also a summer 2024 contender—who received the call when Ten Hag was eventually sacked.
"I did not hear the best feedback from how it went on that occasion," Ornstein said of United's discussions with Pochettino two years ago. "I was told they were a little underwhelmed regarding his coaching, his hunger, his work rate. I don't know all of the factors, but that sort of gist.
"Clearly, they didn't think that highly of him because they ended up taking [Thomas] Tuchel and [Roberto] De Zerbi to the 'last two,' and ultimately gave Ten Hag a new contract."
Man Utd Change Opinion on Pochettino
If United didn't hold Pochettino in high enough regard to hand him the role in 2022 or 2024, something has evidently shifted in the club's perception of him. They could even have brought him in this past summer, when he was briefly without a club following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, but instead chose to elevate Carrick from interim to permanent manager after a strong finish to the 2025–26 campaign.
There remain other credible options available on the market, yet the club appears willing to spend money to release the 54-year-old and his backroom staff from their U.S. Soccer contracts rather than pursue a free agent such as Antonio Conte or Julian Nagelsmann.
It may come down to shifting preferences under specific circumstances. Jason Wilcox had only recently been appointed as technical director in spring 2024 and was impressed by Ten Hag's willingness to incorporate his tactical input ahead of the 2024 FA Cup final. Ultimately, however, results and performances that followed made the Dutchman's position unsustainable.
Perhaps Pochettino himself is also in a different headspace two years on, having still been raw from a clearly difficult spell at Chelsea the last time he spoke with United.
Wilcox, of course, now occupies the more senior position of sporting director.
Given that Pochettino had friction with Chelsea's sporting structure, it follows that his appointment at Old Trafford would need to be accompanied by clear assurances regarding his exact role and the framework he would operate within—especially given the scale of the challenge ahead.
U.S. Soccer clearly values Pochettino's contribution to broader strategy and long-term development. His new contract signed in August outlined an expanded remit to shape the future of soccer in America. He played a significant role previously in developing Southampton and transforming Tottenham. Could it be that Manchester United now recognise more of that dimension to his work as well?
Or did he simply need time away from the game and has now returned as a stronger version of himself?