Pochettino sets out US departure as Manchester United appointment confirmed

Mauricio Pochettino will leave the United States men's national team for Manchester United after completing the current international camp, U.S. Soccer announced on Friday. The federation said the coach and his staff would remain in charge for the matches against Haiti on November 14 and 17.

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Sky Sports reported that Pochettino's United contract runs until summer 2029 and that he will begin work on November 18. He is expected to meet the players and lead training the following day. His first match is scheduled for November 22 away to Liverpool, giving him only a short preparation period with his new squad.

The appointment follows Michael Carrick's dismissal after United's opening 10 Premier League matches left them in the relegation zone. According to Sky Sports, the club's announcement emphasised Pochettino's attacking approach, ability to build teams and development of individual players. His previous English coaching jobs included Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea.

At Friday's news conference, Pochettino became emotional while discussing the decision, the Associated Press reported. He had agreed only three months earlier to stay with the United States through the 2030 World Cup. He told reporters that the chance to take the United job represented a rare career opportunity.

U.S. Soccer's departure announcement credited Pochettino with 21 wins, 12 defeats and two draws in 35 matches since his appointment in September 2024. His team reached the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup final and the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup. The federation also highlighted his work connecting the senior side with its youth national teams.

Steve Cherundolo will oversee the previously scheduled December camp, which U.S. Soccer said would draw mainly on Major League Soccer players. There will be no separate Under-23 camp that month, with the combined arrangements reflecting closer coordination between the senior and Olympic programs.

The federation said chief executive JT Batson and chief operating officer Dan Helfrich would lead the search for Pochettino's successor with assistance from Emma Hayes and Oguchi Onyewu. The announcement did not name a permanent replacement.