A report in the Daily Mail claimed the American owners prioritised Pochettino, despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox favouring Eddie Howe. The report suggested the Glazers instructed the club's executives to proceed with their preferred candidate.
The appointment has now been agreed, with United confirming that Pochettino will take over from November 18. The club has also reached an agreement with the United States Soccer Federation to release the Argentine and his staff once their international commitments have been completed.
Pochettino is expected to sign a two-and-a-half-year contract at Old Trafford, with Manchester United paying compensation to secure his departure from the United States national team. The reported release payment has been put at between £7 million and £7.4 million.
The decision follows Thursday's dismissal of Michael Carrick, whose side had fallen into the Premier League relegation zone after a difficult opening to the campaign. United have won only once in their first 10 league matches, with the 4-4 draw against Aston Villa proving Carrick's final game.
Pochettino will remain in charge of the United States for their two Concacaf Nations League quarter-final matches against Haiti, scheduled for Saturday and Tuesday. He is then expected to travel to Manchester, with his first match as United head coach coming against Liverpool at Anfield on November 22.
The timing leaves him with little opportunity to work with his new players before one of the biggest fixtures of the season.
The 54-year-old arrives with extensive Premier League experience, having previously managed Southampton and Tottenham before taking charge of Chelsea in 2023. His five full seasons at Tottenham brought four consecutive Champions League qualifications and a place in the 2019 final.
He began his managerial career at Espanyol in 2009 before moving to Southampton, where he guided the club to a then-record Premier League points total in 2014. After leaving Tottenham, he took charge of Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Trophée des Champions.
Pochettino most recently led the United States, taking the national team to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup. United's announcement praised his attacking approach, emphasis on collective team-building and record of developing individual players.
The Glazers' reported intervention adds another dimension to an appointment that comes amid continued questions about the division of authority at Old Trafford. Ratcliffe and INEOS oversee the club's football operations, but the latest reports suggest the American owners retained the final say over the choice of manager.
Pochettino's immediate priority will be to lift United away from the bottom of the table. His first test arrives at Anfield, with only a handful of training sessions available before the visit to Liverpool.