Rio Ferdinand has named Mauricio Pochettino as the man who should replace Michael Carrick at Manchester United, insisting the Argentine “jumps off the list” of candidates to take over at Old Trafford. The Rio Ferdinand Pochettino endorsement comes as United’s hierarchy prepares to decide Carrick’s future in Monaco on Wednesday, with United 18th in the Premier League.
Ferdinand, a six-time Premier League winner with United, made the case on his YouTube channel, as reported by Metro on Tuesday. “People are talking about Mauricio Pochettino and it looks like he’s at the front of the queue right now,” he said.
Rio Ferdinand Pochettino: ‘He’s got more than the others’
“I look at Pochettino and one of his biggest assets is that human element of his management and building confidence with his players,” Ferdinand said. “I look at that group of names and think Pochettino is the one that jumps off the list as someone who has more of the things we’re looking for to save and build a group of players. He’s got more than the others from what I’ve seen and my interactions with him over time.” Ferdinand added that he spent time with Pochettino and his staff in the summer: “They’re really good guys and competent at what they do.”
Why Ferdinand picks Pochettino over Howe
Ferdinand also faced the obvious objection head-on: Pochettino’s thin trophy cabinet. “There’s not many names jumping off the page when you look at it. People will say, ‘what has Pochettino won?’, but you can say the same about Eddie Howe,” he said.
Howe, the former Newcastle manager, is the other leading contender, alongside Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann. Pochettino’s case rests on his Premier League record rather than silverware: he took Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final, then managed Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea before taking charge of the United States in September 2024. He took the Americans to the round of 16 at this summer’s World Cup and extended his contract to 2030, with a release clause of around $10 million (£7.4 million) believed to be in the deal. Reports this week say Pochettino would jump at the chance to take the Old Trafford job, although there has been no direct contact between United and the Argentine yet.
Carrick’s fate to be decided on Wednesday
Carrick’s position has been under review since Sunday’s 4-4 draw with Aston Villa left United with just one win from 10 league games and eight points, one point above the bottom of the table. The Athletic reported on Monday that the club is expected to sack the 45-year-old during the international break, although United insist no final decision has been made. A meeting chaired by Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco on Wednesday is now expected to settle it.
Carrick took training as normal on Tuesday morning. Eight league games without a win have left the hierarchy convinced a change is needed. Whoever takes over will have their first game in charge at Liverpool on Sunday, 22 November.
Ferdinand’s backing carries weight: he won six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2008 during 12 years at the club, and his support adds to the sense that Pochettino is the clear favourite to rebuild belief in a dressing room that has lost its way. For more on United’s season so far, check today’s predictions.
Photos: Web Summit (CC BY 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons — collage by SportsBuddy.
