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Manchester United have confirmed the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as the club’s new head coach, succeeding Michael Carrick.
Managerial Change at Old Trafford
Pochettino will leave his position in charge of the United States men’s team to move to Old Trafford after the conclusion of the current international window. He will remain in charge for the States’ two-legged tie against Haiti, with the second leg taking place in Cincinnati on Tuesday, November 17. This leaves him with minimal time to prepare the squad before their Premier League fixture away against Liverpool on Sunday, November 22.
Manchester United agreed to pay a release clause of £7.4 million to secure Pochettino as the successor to Carrick, who was dismissed on Thursday. A club statement confirmed that Pochettino will officially assume his role on November 18, following an agreement with the US Soccer Federation for the release of the manager and his coaching staff.
Pochettino takes over a United side that has won only one of their opening 10 Premier League matches and sits in the relegation zone, marking their worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1986. The club highlighted his high-intensity, attacking style, team-building dedication, and player development record across previous stints with Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, as well as leading the US men’s national team to the World Cup Round of 16.
US Soccer Reaction and Future Plans
US Soccer CEO and Secretary General JT Batson praised the departing coach following a two-year tenure featuring 21 wins and two draws across 35 games, noting that Pochettino and his staff raised standards and strengthened the organizational culture.
Pochettino expressed gratitude for his time with the national team, describing the opportunity as one of the greatest honours of his career and praising the depth of the US player pool.
Steve Cherundolo will take charge of the upcoming December training camp while US Soccer conducts a search for a permanent successor, led by a leadership team including Emma Hayes and Oguchi Onyewu.
Challenges Awaiting at Manchester United
Carrick previously took charge on an interim basis in January following the departure of Ruben Amorim, leading the team to a third-place finish and Champions League qualification. However, a difficult summer transfer window under director of football Jason Wilcox left the squad unbalanced, with midfield reinforcements arriving while attack and left-back positions remained short of depth.
Pochettino must also address dressing room issues after two senior players made public criticisms earlier in the season, including Lisandro Martinez questioning the club hierarchy and captain Bruno Fernandes criticizing tactics. Additionally, the club hopes Pochettino will continue his track record of promoting youth players, mirroring his work integrating young talents into the US national setup.
Pochettino will bring his long-time assistant Jesus Perez and the rest of his coaching staff with him to Manchester United.
