Mauricio Pochettino leaves USMNT to become Manchester United manager
Mauricio Pochettino has left his role as USMNT head coach to take over at Manchester United on a two-and-a-half-year contract following Michael Carrick's dismissal.
Mauricio Pochettino leaves USMNT to become Manchester United manager.
Manchester United Names Mauricio Pochettino as New Head Coach Following Michael Carrick Dismissal
Manchester United announced the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as their new men's head coach, confirming a move that has been rumored all week. Pochettino departs his role with the United States men's national team after overseeing 37 matches across 26 months, a tenure that included a Gold Cup final, a Nations League semifinal, and a Round of 16 appearance at the 2026 World Cup. According to sources told to The Athletic's Adam Crafton and David Ornstein, Pochettino signed a two-and-a-half-year contract that runs until the summer of 2029.
The Old Trafford club acted following a difficult start to the season under Michael Carrick, who was sacked with the club languishing in the relegation zone. Manchester United, sitting 18th in England's top flight, had just one victory from their opening 10 matches of the league campaign, marking their worst start to a season in 40 years, and conceding more goals than any other side in Europe's top five leagues. Teamtalk reported that INEOS figures wanted Eddie Howe, but the Glazers insisted on Pochettino.
Immediate Timeline and Upcoming Fixtures
Pochettino and his staff will be released from their USMNT contracts after the current international break. Despite the impending move, Pochettino will still be on the touchline for the United States' CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal matches against Haiti on November 14 and November 17.
Pochettino will officially take over at Man United on Nov. 18. His first game in charge will be against rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Nov. 22.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| New Manager | Mauricio Pochettino |
| Contract Length | Two-and-a-half-year contract that runs until the summer of 2029 |
| Official Start Date | Nov. 18 |
| First Match | vs. Liverpool at Anfield on Nov. 22 |
| Predecessor | Michael Carrick |
Official Club Rationale and Reaction
In an official statement announcing the move, United stated: “The Argentinian is renowned for his high-intensity, attacking style of football, his dedication to building strong, cohesive teams, and his outstanding record of developing individual players.” The club also highlighted his coaching career starting with Espanyol in 2009, his time at Southampton achieving a club-record Premier League points tally in 2014, his five full seasons at Tottenham Hotspur leading the club to the 2019 Champions League final, his spell at Paris Saint-Germain winning domestic titles, and his time at Chelsea.
Reactions to the confirmation of Mauricio Pochettino’s departure from USMNT fans included social media reactions such as ‘Hope he gets booed’. Meanwhile, Pochettino has extensive Premier League managerial experience after spells at Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea.
The Future for the United States Men's National Team
With Pochettino's departure, the USSF is back in the market for a new men's manager. Cherundolo will lead the USMNT December camp, which will feature a friendly against Jamaica.
Potential candidates mentioned as being in the mix include BJ Callaghan, Mikey Varas, Pellegrino Matarazzo, Thierry Henry, Steve Cherundolo, and Pep Guardiola as a reported top target. Jesse Marsch ruled himself out, stating: "Let me make it really clear: I never will coach the U.S. National team. Ever."
CurrentDeck is dedicated to independent, evidence-backed reporting. This briefing was synthesized from primary source reporting, corroborated across independent newsrooms, and verified against our Editorial Standards.
