Mauricio Pochettino is leaving the United States men's national team to take the head coaching job at Manchester United.
The Red Devils confirmed the appointment of the Argentine tactician Friday, noting that Pochettino and his staff will be released from their USMNT contracts after the current international break.
Pochettino, who replaces Michael Carrick at Old Trafford, will officially take over at Man United on Nov. 18. His first game in charge will be against perennial rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Nov. 22.
"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," United said in a statement announcing a move that has been rumored all week.
The fallen Premier League giants fired Carrick on Thursday after a dismal start to the season that's left the club languishing in the relegation zone. Man United, sitting 18th in England's top flight, have just one victory from their opening 10 matches of the league campaign, marking their worst start to a season in 40 years.
They reportedly opened talks with Pochettino earlier this week, prior to Carrick's formal dismissal, to iron out personal terms with the 54-year-old bench boss.
Pochettino signed a two-and-a-half-year contract that runs until the summer of 2029, sources told The Athletic's Adam Crafton and David Ornstein.
Pochettino recently inked a new deal with U.S. Soccer through the 2030 World Cup and reportedly had a $10-million release clause that Manchester United triggered to pry him away.
In a press conference Friday, a visibly emotional Pochettino called the decision to leave his post as U.S. boss "one of the most difficult" of his career.
Pochettino, who has extensive Premier League managerial experience after spells at Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea, has long coveted the job at Old Trafford.
He reportedly engaged in talks with Man United about the position on three previous occasions: when Jose Mourinho was sacked in 2018, before the club hired Erik ten Hag in 2022, and again when the Dutchman was fired in 2024.
Hired by U.S. Soccer in 2024 as the permanent replacement for Gregg Berhalter, Pochettino led the Americans to the round of 16 at this summer's World Cup. The tournament co-host won three of its opening four matches on home soil before being eliminated by Belgium.
In all, the former defender oversaw 35 matches with the USMNT, leading the team to 21 wins.
However, a return to club soccer always seemed likely. Pochettino reportedly met with AC Milan representatives ahead of the 2026 World Cup to discuss their coaching vacancy, though no deal materialized.
Despite negotiating his exit during the international break, Pochettino will still be on the touchline for the United States' CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal matches against Haiti in the coming days.
Following those two games - Nov. 14 and Nov. 17 - the Americans don't have another competitive fixture until March, giving U.S. Soccer ample time to find a new coach. The federation will reportedly pursue Pep Guardiola as its top target.
Pochettino now faces the monumental task of restoring a floundering Manchester United to the upper echelons of the Premier League.
The club has just one win in its last 11 matches across all competitions and has conceded 15 goals over its last five contests.
