Alex Ferguson has already endorsed Mauricio Pochettino as Man United manager – a decade on from private meeting

Alex Ferguson may finally get his wish as Manchester United consider appointing Mauricio Pochettino. talkSPORT understands the Red Devils are set to sack Michael Carrick – with the club sitting inside the relegation zone after a calamitous start to the 2026/27 season. Ex-Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and former Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann had been the most heavily-linked names in recent weeks before a surprise twist on Monday night. USA national team manager Pochettino has now emerged as the leading contender to replace Carrick. But for those who have followed the chaos in the Old Trafford dugout for many years, this may not come as such a surprise… Pochettino and Man United: a love story that never was The Argentine came close to being appointed Man United manager in 2021 after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked. talkSPORT reported at the time that Pochettino, then in charge of Paris Saint-Germain, was desperate for the job . Meanwhile, legendary Red Devils boss Ferguson was actively leading the bid to appoint him. Ferguson and Pochettino only came face-to-face in the Premier League once – as United beat Southampton 2-1 at Old Trafford in 2013. Speaking after the match, the Scot admitted his team had been outplayed . A retired Ferguson then admired from afar as Pochettino took Tottenham to the brink of a Premier League title and a Champions League final. “Well the manager has been fantastic,” the 84-year-old said in 2016. “They have a bad record of managers, there is no doubt about that. They have had so many over the years, but this lad has composure. “You never see him ruffled and the way his team play is a testimony to the work he is doing. “The most important thing for English football is how many English and young players are in his team. “He understands the advantage of playing young people. They won’t let you down and they have been fantastic.” Labour MP David Lammy (of all people) revealed that, in 2016, Ferguson believed Pochettino was the best manager in the Premier League . “I’m going to let you in to a secret,” Lammy told The Spurs Show podcast a decade ago. “About six weeks ago I sat next to Alex Ferguson at a dinner in support of grassroots football abroad. “He said to me, ‘I think you guys have the best manager in the Premier League.’ Alex Ferguson said that.” Ferguson’s private meeting with Pochettino The pair famously had lunch together in May 2016 and Pochettino admitted he was left utterly starstruck . “I’ll always remember each and every detail from those hours of conversation,” Pochettino recalled in his book ‘Brave New World’. “It was a dream come true. I felt like a teenage footballer all over again, listening to a knowledgeable coach. “I sent the photos that we took of us together to everyone. John McDermott [Tottenham’s former head of player development] commented that I seemed to be in a trance. He called me a ‘hero worshipper’. “I knew many details from Ferguson’s career and admired him for the way that he turned United into a successful team, while creating something different in world football. “But when I met him, what impressed me most was not so much the CV, but his energy and aura. “His character, his charisma engulfs you. I’d love to keep calling on his advice.” While Ferguson is no longer a paid employee at United, he remains a non-executive director at Old Trafford. And if INEOS did approach the legendary Scotsman for a word of advice, Pochettino has always held a special place in his heart. talkSPORT verdict talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent, and Man United fan, Alex Crook outlined why he believes Poch could be the right man. He said: “Pochettino’s looking like the favourite now. For all my United fans listening wondering why Pochettino would be a good appointment? “This one really has gathered momentum over the last 24 hours as well. “He’s currently contracted to the USA, but it’s my understanding he’s got a release clause in that contract, about £7 million, so it wouldn’t be an expensive appointment. “Why would he be a good hire? Well, this is the job that he’s coveted for a long time. I think he was very much at United’s thinking when they appointed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. That’s how long he’s wanted this job. “He’s obviously got that track record in the Premier League. I saw him at close hand at Southampton, and went on one of their pre-season tours. “I saw how much he got out of the players, how much the players thought of him as a coach. “It was a similar story at Tottenham. Look at Dele Alli. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that he played his best football under Mauricio Pochettino. “His career has dwindled off subsequently. And people forget, yes, he’s not maybe a serial trophy winner. Didn’t go brilliantly for him at PSG, but he got Tottenham to a Champions League final. That is unheralded territory for Spurs. “I personally think if Daniel Levy had backed him that summer, then maybe they could have been a real force in the Premier League.”