Mauricio Pochettino has officially been appointed as Manchester United's new head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract, ending his short stint in charge of the United States men's national team. The 54-year-old Argentine broke down in tears during his final press conference with US Soccer, describing the decision to step down as one of the most emotional and difficult moments of his coaching career. However, he admitted that the chance to take the helm at Old Trafford was simply impossible to turn down.
To secure Pochettino's services, Manchester United paid a release clause in the region of £7.4 million to the US Soccer Federation, alongside a separate financial package to bring over his backroom staff. Despite having only agreed to a four-year contract with the American national side during the summer, Pochettino will fulfill his immediate duties by managing the US team in their upcoming matches against Haiti on November 14 and 18. He will then relocate to England, with his first official match in charge of the Red Devils scheduled to be a high-stakes away clash against Liverpool on November 22.
Pochettino arrives at Old Trafford following the dismissal of Michael Carrick, who was relieved of his duties just 15 games into his full-time tenure after signing a two-year extension in May. United are enduring their worst domestic start in 40 years, sitting in 18th place in the Premier League with only a single victory from 10 league matches this season. Following his exit, Carrick released a public statement expressing deep gratitude for leading the club he loves, while emphasizing the importance of preserving Manchester United's historic identity and standards.
The appointment marks the conclusion of a decade-long interest from United's board, who first considered hiring Pochettino in 2016 following his successful spell at Southampton. Over the years, the club repeatedly bypassed the manager in favor of Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag, and most recently Ruben Amorim. For readers staying updated through our sports section, this coaching transition occurs amidst mounting fan criticism regarding recruitment under sporting director Jason Wilcox, though club officials firmly deny any internal rift between Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family.
