Mauricio Pochettino is set to end his two-and-a-half-year absence from the Premier League by taking the head coach role at Manchester United.
Pochettino will depart his position with the United States national team to succeed Michael Carrick at Old Trafford, who was sacked just 15 matches into his permanent tenure as United boss.
Originally endorsed by Sir Alex Ferguson, the Argentine inherits a side that are currently stranded in the Premier League relegation zone with just one win from their opening 10 matches.
There's no hiding from the gargantuan task Pochettino faces in attempting to galvanise a Manchester United side with evident defensive vulnerabilities, but the former Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea coach is thought to be relishing a managerial role he's been linked to on multiple occasions.
bet365's Steve Freeth said: "Manchester United started the season as 2/5 favourites to finish above Spurs, but their poor run has seen them flip-flop. The arrival of Poch is expected to give the Red Devils a boost in a race that could go all the way to the penultimate game of the season when the sides meet in North London."
Pochettino spent a glorious five years with Tottenham from 2014, despite his inability to win silverware with the Lilywhites.
Under his tutelage Spurs achieved a top-four finish in four of his five seasons and reached their first UEFA Champions League final, which ended in bitter defeat to Liverpool.
He boasted the best points-per-game ratio of any Tottenham boss in Premier League history prior to the 2019/20 season, when a dismal start to the campaign saw him slip behind Tim Sherwood - who only managed a tenth of the matches Pochettino did - and ultimately resulted in his demise.
Only Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea racked up more Premier League points than Tottenham during Pochettino's era at Spurs, and the Argentine even masterminded the end of St Totteringham's Day as they finished above Arsenal for the first time in 22 years.
For all of his successes at Tottenham, it was the failure to lift a trophy that haunted Pochettino, and he will be desperate to rectify his lack of silverware at Manchester United.
Although United are currently perched in the relegation zone, they're only four points adrift of Tottenham after 10 matches.
Spurs' winning run was ended by Leeds United at Elland Road on the eve of the international window, rendering the "Spurs are back" comments slightly premature.
Roberto De Zerbi's men are acutely aware of how a string of victories can transform the mood inside a club and alter the trajectory of a season, and Pochettino will be hoping he can commence his tenure with a winning streak of his own to lift the spirits inside Old Trafford.
However, his first assignment is a daunting trip to Anfield to face Liverpool, before United face Brentford, Newcastle United and Coventry City.
Tottenham have an encouraging run between now and the North London derby at the start of December, and they will be hoping to build a tally which can help them realise their top-six ambitions.
Manchester United odds to finish above Tottenham Hotspur