Pochettino's Departure Leaves USMNT in Search of New Leadership
Manchester United names the Argentine manager its new coach, forcing United Soccer to accelerate a search for a replacement just months after his arrival.
By Leah Thompson ·
The search for a new head coach of the United States men's national team begins in earnest this week.
Mauricio Pochettino accepted an offer to become the permanent manager of Manchester United. He will leave his post with the U.S. national team to take charge at Old Trafford. The United Soccer Federation announced the move after the 54 year old Argentine agreed to depart. This occurs just three months after he signed a contract to lead the Americans through the 2030 World Cup. Pochettino will remain with the squad for its upcoming CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal matches against Haiti on Saturday and Tuesday. He will then travel to England to assume his new role.
The decision impacts the immediate future of the American program. The federation will now begin a formal search for a replacement. JT Batson, the executive director of U.S. Soccer, and Dan Helfrich, the director of operations, will lead the process. They will be assisted by women's national team coach Emma Hayes and former defender Oguchi Onyewu. Reports indicate the federation will gauge interest from Pep Guardiola. They may also consider promoting Steve Cherundolo, who currently coaches the under 23 team. Cherundolo is scheduled to lead a training camp for the senior squad next month using primarily Major League Soccer players.
Pochettino's tenure with the United States was brief but marked by a specific competitive result. He took over the team in the fall of 2024. Under his guidance, the co hosts of the upcoming World Cup reached the Round of 16 in the tournament held this year. Batson praised the manager's impact on the organization's internal structure. He stated that Pochettino elevated the standards and strengthened the culture of the program. Batson noted that the connections between the youth and senior levels became clearer during Pochettino's time in the role.
The move to Manchester United is driven by the club's current standing in the Premier League. United sits in 18th place out of 20 teams after 10 matches of the season. The club is in the relegation zone. This marks the worst league start for the team in 40 years. United dismissed Michael Carrick on Thursday following a record of one win, five draws, and four losses. Pochettino will take over before the match against Liverpool on November 22. He will become the eighth permanent manager of the club since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. The club has not won the league title since Ferguson's final season in 2013. Previous managers including Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, and Erik ten Hag have all departed after failing to secure major domestic or European honors. Pochettino's most notable achievements include winning the French league with Paris Saint Germain in 2022 and guiding Tottenham Hotspur to the 2019 Champions League final.
