MANCHESTER, England — Mauricio Pochettino is leaving the United States men’s national team to become head coach of Manchester United, U.S. Soccer and United announced on Friday.
United said the 54-year-old Argentine has agreed to take charge from Nov. 18. The club said it “has reached an agreement with the U.S. Soccer Federation for Mauricio and his staff to be released after the conclusion of their responsibilities with the U.S. Men’s National Team.”
Pochettino succeeds Michael Carrick, whom United sacked on Thursday with the club 18th in the Premier League. United have eight points from 10 league games, with one win, and have won three of their 15 matches in all competitions, according to Reuters. They sit one point above last-place Crystal Palace.
Two more games with the United States
Pochettino and his staff will coach the United States in its Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal matches against Haiti on Nov. 14 and 17 before he leaves, U.S. Soccer said. Steve Cherundolo will then lead the team’s previously scheduled December camp, which will feature a primarily MLS-based roster, and there will be no separate Under-23 camp that month.
“The opportunity to represent the USA crest was one of the greatest honors of my career. We are so grateful to the players for their commitment, to the fans for their belief, and to the Federation for always supporting our staff and creating the opportunities to impact the culture of soccer in this great country,” Pochettino said.
“The opportunity to represent the USA crest was one of the greatest honors of my career.”
Two years in charge
U.S. Soccer named Pochettino in September 2024, and his teams won 21 of their 35 matches, with 12 losses and two draws. The United States reached the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup final and the Round of 16 at this year’s World Cup on home soil, where it finished first in its group and won a knockout game for the first time since 2002. His three World Cup victories are the most by any coach in the team’s history, the federation said.
Seventy-five players earned at least one cap during his tenure. In the most recent window, 11 players under 21 made their senior-team debuts, among them eight teenagers.
“Mauricio has left a lasting mark on U.S. Soccer through his leadership, professionalism and commitment to our players and culture,” U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson said. “What we are most proud of goes beyond the wins. He and his staff raised standards, strengthened our culture and created clearer connections from the Youth National Teams to the senior team.”
What United are getting
United’s statement pointed to Pochettino’s style. “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 said.
Before the U.S. job, he managed Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. At Tottenham he reached the 2019 Champions League final. With PSG he won the Ligue 1 title, the Coupe de France and the Trophée des Champions, according to United’s statement.
The Press Association understands he has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract running to the summer of 2029, and British media have reported compensation of about $10 million to release him from a U.S. contract that was due to run until the 2030 World Cup. His first United match is the trip to Liverpool on Nov. 22, according to Reuters.
U.S. Soccer said Batson and chief operating officer Dan Helfrich will lead the search for his successor, with input from leaders across the federation and world soccer. President Cindy Parlow Cone said the focus after this window is on “finding the right coaching staff to help us build on the progress we’ve built and lead this team to even more success on the world stage.”