Manchester United have appointed Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager following the dismissal of Michael Carrick.

The club announced on Friday that the United States coach, who previously managed Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in the Premier League, would take charge on November 18.

The 54-year-old is understood to have signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at Old Trafford, which will run until the end of the 2028/29 season.

“The club has reached an agreement with the US Soccer Federation for Mauricio and his staff to be released after the conclusion of their responsibilities with the US men’s national team,” United said in a statement.

“The Argentinian is renowned for his high-intensity, attacking style of football, his dedication to building strong, cohesive teams, and his outstanding record of developing individual players.

“Pochettino has consistently performed at the highest level of football across multiple leagues.”

Pochettino, who led the United States to the last 16 of the World Cup on home soil earlier this year, said in a statement released by US Soccer that his time with the national team had been “one of the greatest honours of my career”.

“We are so grateful to the players for their commitment, to the fans for their belief, and to the federation for always supporting our staff and creating the opportunities to impact the culture of soccer in this great country,” he added.

US Soccer Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General, JT Batson, said Pochettino had left a lasting mark on football in the United States through his “leadership, professionalism and commitment to our players and culture”.

The federation is reportedly set to receive $10m in compensation for his departure, in addition to another $2m for the release of his coaching staff.

Pochettino has previously managed Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea in England, as well as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in France.

During his five seasons at Tottenham, he never finished lower than fifth in the Premier League.

Despite his relative success at the north London club, however, Pochettino failed to win a trophy and was dismissed in November 2019, just months after Tottenham lost to Liverpool in the Champions League final.

He won the first trophies of his managerial career with PSG, securing the French Cup in 2021 and the Ligue 1 title in 2022, although he did not complete his contract with the club.

Pochettino returned to management at Chelsea in 2023 but lasted only one season, during which the club reached the FA Cup semi-finals and lost the League Cup final.

Manchester United are currently in the Premier League relegation zone, having recorded just one victory in 10 matches.

Pochettino, who has been linked with the Old Trafford job on several previous occasions, faces a formidable challenge in reviving the fortunes of the 20-time English champions, who have endured their worst-ever start to a Premier League campaign.

The Red Devils are next scheduled to face fierce rivals Liverpool at Anfield on November 22.

Beyond their poor results, Pochettino will also have to address deep divisions within the club, both on and off the pitch.

United captain Bruno Fernandes was dropped last month after criticising Carrick’s tactics following a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como.

Defender Lisandro Martinez also publicly criticised the club’s hierarchy for failing to do more to strengthen the squad during the summer transfer window.

One of Pochettino’s early challenges could be resolving the future of Portugal international Fernandes, who is understood to have rejected a second contract offer.

United have an option to extend his contract until the end of the 2027/28 season, meaning he would not be free to negotiate with other clubs in January.

Angry supporters have also expressed their frustration with the club’s ownership following Carrick’s dismissal.

Despite persistent protests over the past two decades, the US-based Glazer family retain a majority stake in the club. Malcolm Glazer acquired United through a leveraged takeover in 2005, saddling the club with substantial debts.

Hopes that the arrival of British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe as a minority owner in 2024 would usher in a new era have since faded.