Paul Scholes has now shared his immediate verdict on United States boss Mauricio Pochettino replacing former Manchester United teammate Michael Carrick at Old Trafford.

Mauricio Pochettino is set to become the eighth permanent Manchester United manager in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era after talks accelerated this week.

The 54-year-old United States manager had been identified as the perfect replacement for Michael Carrick, who faces an imminent sacking by the club.

Pochettino is currently away on international duty with the US national team for the upcoming two-leg Concacaf Nations League quarter-final matches against Haiti.

Man Utd legend Paul Scholes thinks Mauricio Pochettino’s prime managerial years are behind him

Mauricio Pochettino extended his future with the United States national team in August after leading the country to the round of 16 at the World Cup. The former Chelsea and Tottenham manager does have a £7.5m release clause in his current contract with the United States Soccer Federation, better known as U.S. Soccer, amid the rumblings from the Red Devils.

Manchester United had been heavily linked with the US head coach after it emerged that Michael Carrick faced the sack this week. The Red Devils entered the November international break in the Premier League relegation zone after Man Utd’s 4-4 comeback draw against Aston Villa at Old Trafford last weekend.

Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Paul Scholes does feel that Pochettino has the “presence” to become the next Man Utd head coach. However, the 51-year-old United legend is concerned that Pochettino is no longer considered the elite manager that he was once tipped to be in football.

“He’s a great man,” Scholes said, before adding: “I think he’s got the presence to manage a big football club like Manchester United. He’s got the respect to do it.

“He works with young players. Obviously, Manchester United won’t. My only slight concern is that we’ve come a little bit too late to the party.

“I think we’ve done that in the past. You look at [Louis] Van Gaal, his best years were probably behind him. [Jose] Mourinho, again, I think his best years were probably behind him.”

Man Utd-linked Pochettino has found a footing with the United States national team after a turbulent period post-Tottenham. The Argentine lifted the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain, but he was dismissed after only one season at the Paris-based club.

Pochettino, much as he did at Paris Saint-Germain, was at Premier League side Chelsea for a single campaign before he left Stamford Bridge. The soon-to-be Man Utd manager has overseen the US side since 2024.