Forget Eddie Howe – ‘Extraordinary’ manager is the new favourite to replace Carrick at Man Utd
Manchester United are now interested in Mauricio Pochettino, who suddenly emerged as the favourite to replace Michael Carrick.
The English head coach has been walking on thin ice for weeks. However, a come-from-behind victory over Roma on Wednesday, followed by a dramatic late equaliser against Aston Villa, may have bought him additional time. Moreover, the Old Trafford supporters continue to chant their support for the club legend.
But with Man Utd sitting in the relegation zone, sacking Carrick remains on the table, with a large section of the fanbase considering it a must.
Mauricio Pochettino is now the favourite for Man Utd hot seat
While the decision to replace Carrick has yet to be made, the club officials have certainly been reflecting on their options.
In recent weeks, Eddie Howe was considered the ultimate favourite ahead of Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte. All three managers are currently unattached.
INEOS also like Unai Emery, but Aston Villa are working on extending his contract to ward off the Red Devils.
But over the past few hours, Pochettino has become the new favourite for the role, overtaking Howe and the other candidates.
| Next Man Utd manager | Odds | Implied probability | Betting split (bets received today) |
| Mauricio Pochettino | 7/4 | 36% | 75% |
| Eddie Howe | 2/1 | 33% | 17% |
| Julian Nagelsmann | 4/1 | 20% | 4% |
| Antonio Conte | 5/1 | 17% | 4% |
| Unai Emery | 7/1 | 13% | – |
| Kieran McKenna | 12/1 | 8% | – |
The numbers provided by Oddschecker suggest that the Argentine is now the most popular name for a post-Carrick role.
However, it should be remembered that the 54-year-old remains tied to the United States national team with a long contract running until July 2030.
Is Pochettino a viable option for Man United?
While several sources have been reporting the story, it remains unclear whether the USMNT would be willing to free Pochettino from his contract, especially after the positive signs displayed in last summer’s World Cup.
Nevertheless, if the Argentine can make himself available, he would certainly be an exciting option to consider given his past success in the Premier League, particularly at Southampton and Tottenham.
| Club / National team | Period | Matches | Points per game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espanyol | 2009–2012 | 161 | 1.22 |
| Southampton | 2013–2014 | 60 | 1.45 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2014–2019 | 293 | 1.84 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2021–2022 | 84 | 2.12 |
| Chelsea | 2023–2024 | 51 | 1.78 |
| United States | 2024–present | 35 | 1.91 |
Pochettino had less memorable spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, but his resume and experience make him a more convincing option than some of the younger profiles on the shortlist.
Pep Guardiola once hailed the Murphy native as an ‘extraordinary coach, having witnessed his exploits first-hand, particularly in the 2018/19 Champions League quarter-finals when Spurs shockingly eliminated Man City from the competition.
