Pochettino named as new Manchester United coach
Manchester United has turned to Mauricio Pochettino to haul it out of the Premier League relegation zone.
The club of George Best and Bobby Charlton, of Eric Cantona and David Beckham, have gone without a league title since 2013. The 20-time English champion has won once in 10 league games this season and sits 18th on the table, its lowest position at this stage of a top-flight season since 1986-1987.
Pochettino will join on 18 November after a spell as United States coach, and will lead USA in its upcoming quarter-final legs against Haiti in the CONCACAF Nations League before joining United.
"Not too many opportunities can happen in your career like Manchester United and, of course, when that arrives it is difficult to turn down," an emotional Pochettino said.
"In some ways, it is a very sad decision [to leave USA]," he added while wiping away tears.
"But in other ways, we are professionals, and we also need to look ahead and try to find the next step to help make your dreams come true."
The 54-year-old, who has reportedly signed a contract until 2029, joins a club whose glorious past stands in brutal contrast to its team's present plight, enduring its worst start to a season in four decades.
It has won just three of its 15 matches in all competitions and is one point above bottom side Crystal Palace, which is also looking for a new manager after sacking Pierre Sage.
For decades, United stood as English football's undisputed glamour club, embodying prestige, success and global appeal while boasting a galaxy of superstars.
Ten years after the 1958 Munich air disaster had killed eight Manchester United players as the team flew home from a European Cup tie in Belgrade, crash survivor Charlton and mercurial Northern Irish winger and sixties icon Best scored at Wembley as United beat Benfica to become the first English club to lift the trophy.
That night captured the hearts of Manchester United fans across the globe, forging an emotional connection with the club that the legendary treble-winning side of 1999 would only go on to cement.
But its recent struggles have left United searching for stability rather than stardom and Pochettino's appointment represents a calculated gamble on a coach whose teams have often impressed without consistently delivering major trophies.
United's squad has been assembled at considerable expense but lacks confidence and identity, with supporters booing the players off the pitch after their recent defeat at the hands of Bournemouth.
He will also have to contend with the scrutiny that comes with one of the most high-profile hot seats in world football, with his first match in charge an acid test against rival Liverpool at Anfield on 23 November (AEDT).
Pochettino has a track record of nurturing young talent, building competitive sides and instilling a distinct football identity.
After his first managerial stint at Espanyol, he arrived on England's shores to build his reputation at Southampton by shaping an energetic and progressive team before enjoying his greatest success at Tottenham Hotspur.
Pochettino transformed the London club into a regular contender for UEFA Champions League qualification and led it to the 2019 final, but subsequent spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea produced mixed results.
Although he won the Ligue 1 title with PSG, he failed to deliver the European success the ambitious, cash-rich club craved while his brief stint at Chelsea also ended without a major trophy.
Such a record presents a contrast with the Old Trafford club's history and ambitions.
Under Alex Ferguson, the club won 13 Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League crowns, building a reputation for attracting elite players and competing consistently for the biggest honours.
But since Ferguson's retirement, United has struggled to find a manager capable of restoring that level of sustained success.
Repeated managerial changes have done little to resolve deeper structural and sporting issues, with Michael Carrick the latest casualty.
Carrick's departure followed a 4-4 home draw with Aston Villa, two weeks after a humiliating 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth that left supporters questioning the club's direction.
United seems to have answered that immediate question, but the answer comes at a price. British media reported United would have to pay compensation of $10 million to release Pochettino from his US Soccer contract, which had been due to run until the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
