Mauricio Pochettino is leaving the U.S. men's national team to take over Manchester United, three months after signing a four-year extension with U.S. Soccer.
Mauricio Pochettino is leaving the U.S. men's national team to become head coach of Manchester United, according to Yahoo Sports. The move is expected to become official Friday, with an announcement planned in England.
Pochettino, 54, will complete his tenure with the USMNT by coaching the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals against Haiti on Saturday in Miami and Tuesday in Cincinnati. He is expected to debut for Manchester United on Nov. 22 at Liverpool.
The departure comes just over three months after Pochettino and U.S. Soccer renewed their partnership. The new deal included a $10 million release clause, which Manchester United is expected to trigger. United will also need to pay an additional sum to bring along Pochettino's staff, including assistants Jesús Pérez and Miguel D'Agostino.
Manchester United fired Michael Carrick on Thursday. Carrick had been named permanent manager in the offseason after serving as interim boss following Ruben Amorim's sacking in January. His permanent tenure lasted less than six months.
United entered the international break in the Premier League's relegation zone with a 1-5-4 start. The club has not been relegated since the 1973-74 season. Pochettino's first match could be against Liverpool on Nov. 22.
U.S. Soccer officials have not commented on the situation. The federation is expected to begin its search for a replacement immediately. The U.S. will not play again with the full squad until late March, and the next major tournament is the CONCACAF Gold Cup next summer.
Potential candidates mentioned in reporting include Nashville SC's B.J. Callaghan, former Belgium and Portugal boss Roberto Martinez, U.S. under-23 coach Steve Cherundolo, and Pellegrino Matarazzo, who is in charge of Spain's Real Sociedad. Pep Guardiola has also been connected to the position in past reporting.
Pochettino's exit leaves U.S. Soccer searching for a new coach months into a World Cup cycle, after the federation secured his signature with donor financing and made him its highest-paid coach ever. The timing gives U.S. Soccer a window to find a replacement before the next senior camp in March.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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