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FRIDAY | NOV 13, 2026

Malaysian Paper

Right man for the job? Mauricio Pochettino (left) is reportedly closing in on the Manchester United job as Michael Carrick’s disastrous start ended his tenure at the club. – REUTERSPIC

M ANCHESTER United have sacked Michael Carrick, with former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino emerging as a leading candidate to take over at Old Trafford and revive the fortunes of the troubled Premier League giants. Pochettino, currently in charge of the United States national team, is reportedly close to agreeing to take the United job, potentially bringing his two-year spell with the Americans to an end. United’s decision to part ways with Carrick marks another chapter in the club’s prolonged managerial turmoil as they continue their search for stability and a return to the top of English football. The Red Devils have gone through 11 managers, including caretakers, since Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 without winning another Premier League title, highlighting the scale of the rebuilding job awaiting the next appointment. Pochettino’s reputation for developing young talent, building strong dressing-room relationships and encouraging high-intensity football makes him an attractive candidate. The 54-year-old previously guided Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur to impressive spells in the Premier League, famously taking Spurs to the 2019 Champions League final despite operating with considerably fewer financial resources than Europe’s elite clubs. His ability to inspire players and supporters was also evident during his time with the United States, where he sought to build a team capable of competing against the world’s best. Before the World Cup, Pochettino frequently spoke about his desire to transform “expectation into energy” and “create amazing energy between the fans and us”.

Pochetti-go Carrick out as United turn to former Spurs boss

His best years at Spurs, where he was widely admired by players and supporters despite failing to deliver a major trophy, are also almost a decade in the past. “Pochettino himself is like a walking vision of better times and diminished powers,” wrote The Guardian’s Barney Ronay. United would therefore be gambling that the Argentine can rediscover the qualities that once made him one of Europe’s most sought-after managers while rebuilding a club that has lost much of its former authority. The relationship between Pochettino and United is hardly new, with the Argentine having been linked with the Old Trafford job on several occasions over the years. The club’s hierarchy admired him during his successful spell at Tottenham and again when his departure from PSG became increasingly likely. However, despite United’s interest, Pochettino eventually returned to the Premier League with Chelsea in 2023 rather than making the move to Manchester. At the time, United were still under Erik ten Hag, who remained in charge for another 18 months before being dismissed. Several managerial changes have followed, with Carrick now the latest casualty in a prolonged search for stability. With another vacancy at Old Trafford, United have an opportunity to finally secure the services of a manager they have admired for years. Whether Pochettino can turn that long standing interest into a successful partnership remains to be seen, but his potential appointment would represent another attempt by United to find the leadership and direction that have eluded them since Ferguson’s departure. The question now is whether the Argentine can succeed where so many before him have failed. – The Independent/Agencies

Guardian in 2015, the year future Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane established himself as a major star at Tottenham. He also demonstrated that philosophy with the United States, handing 21-year-old Alex Freeman a starting role at the World Cup. Freeman impressed defensively and scored against Australia, while Pochettino also handed 13 players their international debuts during recent friendlies. However, appointing the Argentine would not be without risks. His relatively short spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea were less successful than his time in England with Tottenham. At PSG, he reportedly became frustrated with the egos in a star-studded dressing room featuring Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, while his time at Chelsea was complicated by the highly hands-on approach of the club’s billionaire owners. Such challenges could resurface at United, where managing big personalities and navigating the expectations of the club’s hierarchy have proved difficult for several previous managers. Another criticism frequently directed at Pochettino is his limited collection of major honours. He has lost five finals, including the Champions League final with Tottenham, while his only league title came during his time at PSG.

Although the Americans’ last 16 exit was not the ultimate success they had hoped for, they produced one of the tournament’s best attacking displays in a 4-1 demolition of Paraguay and won their first knockout match since 2002. “When you are free, you perform. When you feel happy, you perform… Pressure is a thing that, if you don’t deal perfectly with it, can be heavy,“ Pochettino told reporters. That ability to manage pressure will be particularly important at Old Trafford, where expectations remain enormous despite years of disappointment. United have experimented with different managerial philosophies, playing styles and tactical systems since Ferguson’s departure, but none has delivered the consistency required to return the club to the summit of English football. Pochettino typically favours a 4-2-3-1 formation, emphasising quick passing from the back, aggressive pressing and energetic movement without possession. Equally significant is his willingness to trust young players, a quality that could appeal to United given their investment in emerging talents such as Kobbie Mainoo, Leny Yoro and Shea Lacey. “If a player deserves to play, if they are 17, 18, 19 or 20, it’s the same for us,” Pochettino told The

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