Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to take charge of Manchester United on a two-and-a-half-year contract, with the Argentine set to replace Michael Carrick following his dismissal on Thursday.
The 54-year-old has signed as head coach of the United States national team, returning to the Premier League for another spell in English football.
Manchester United are expected to officially announce his appointment on Friday after completing negotiations with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).
The club has reportedly agreed to pay a £7 million release clause in Pochettino’s contract to secure his services.
Pochettino is expected to oversee his first training session on Thursday.
United officials have been negotiating with US Soccer over the past 24 hours to arrange Pochettino’s departure.
As part of the agreement, the Manchester club has reportedly allowed the Argentine to remain in charge of the United States for its two international matches against Haiti.
The second fixture is scheduled to take place in Cincinnati on Tuesday. Arrangements are being made for Pochettino to travel directly to Manchester afterwards.
The arrangement is intended to give him enough time to prepare for his first match in charge, an away Premier League encounter against Liverpool at Anfield the following Sunday.
Pochettino previously managed Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in England, as well as Paris Saint-Germain in France. His return to the Premier League will mark another major chapter in his managerial career.
His appointment follows the departure of Carrick, who was dismissed less than six months after signing a two-year contract at Old Trafford.
Carrick’s exit came after Manchester United endured their worst start to a Premier League season, recording only one victory in their opening 10 matches and dropping into the relegation zone.
In a statement released on Thursday morning, shortly after Carrick left the club’s training ground, United said the decision followed a difficult assessment of the team’s direction.
“We have reached the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions,” the club said.
Pochettino will become Manchester United’s eighth permanent manager since the retirement of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
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