Mauricio Pochettino and Manchester United are a decade in the making

When the expected formalities of Michael Carrick's dismissal as Manchester United are completed after a summit meeting in Monaco, Mauricio Pochettino looks set to turn a decade-long courtship with Old Trafford into a full-blown relationship. Pochettino and United go back a long way, with the Argentine's name associated with the club since he was spotted leaving a lunch appointment at Scott's restaurant in Mayfair with Sir Alex Ferguson in 2016.

Ferguson was three years into his retirement, while Pochettino was building his reputation at Tottenham , where he fashioned an intense, all-out-attacking team that the great Scot admired. Pochettino was mentioned as a contender to succeed Louis van Gaal when he was sacked by United in May 2016, then when Jose Mourinho suffered the same fate in December 2018.

Pochettino was the other name on United's shortlist when Erik ten Hag was appointed in April 2022, then again when the Dutchman was shown the door in October 2024. Finally, as Carrick awaits what looks to be the inevitable, it looks like Pochettino will inherit the Old Trafford empire.