Manchester United have confirmed Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach, ending a week of upheaval at Old Trafford with the appointment of the former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager.

The club announced the move on Friday, a day after sacking Michael Carrick, and confirmed that Pochettino has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract running to the summer of 2029. He will take charge on Wednesday 18 November, after first completing his duties with the United States national team.

First game is Liverpool at Anfield

Pochettino will remain in charge of the United States for their two matches against Haiti in the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-finals, on Saturday and next Tuesday, before travelling to Manchester. His first game in charge of United will be the trip to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday 22 November.

The 54-year-old leaves the United States role after two years in charge. He took over the national team in 2024 and led the World Cup co-hosts to the last 16 on home soil earlier this year, where their campaign ended in defeat by Belgium. His record with the United States stood at 21 wins, one draw and 13 defeats.

United said they had reached an agreement with the United States Soccer Federation for Pochettino and his coaching staff to be released after the current international break. The Times reported that United will pay US Soccer compensation of £7.5 million to release him from a contract that had been due to run until the 2030 World Cup.

Carrick sacked after worst start in 40 years

Pochettino succeeds Carrick, who was dismissed on Thursday after United made their worst start to a league campaign in four decades. The club have won only one of their first 10 Premier League games this season, collecting eight points, and sit 18th in the table, one point above bottom side Crystal Palace.

Carrick's departure followed a 4-4 home draw with Aston Villa, two weeks after a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth. He had signed a two-year contract in May and leaves six months into that deal, with United having won only three of their 15 matches in all competitions this season.

The appointment was recommended by United's director of football, Jason Wilcox, and chief executive, Omar Berrada, and approved by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe at a meeting in Monaco on Wednesday. The club described their new head coach as renowned for his high-intensity, attacking style of football and his record of developing individual players.

A return to the Premier League

Pochettino returns to club football after two years away from the domestic game. He previously managed Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea in the Premier League, and also spent time in charge of Paris Saint-Germain and Espanyol.

Details of the coaching staff who will join Pochettino at United are expected to be confirmed in the coming days. He is set to address the media as United head coach for the first time towards the end of next week, after arriving in Manchester.

United's first task under their new manager is a trip to Anfield, where a side in the relegation zone will face one of the form teams in the league. The scale of the job is clear: one win from 10 games has left the club fighting at the wrong end of the table, and Pochettino's first weeks will be judged on whether he can quickly steady a side that has lost its way.

Reuters and TNT Sports reported the confirmation.