Mauricio Pochettino leaves U.S. team to join Manchester United

Mauricio Pochettino is the new manager of Manchester United. The Argentine coach will leave the United States men's national team to take the helm of the English club. United confirmed the hiring on Friday. Pochettino signed a contract that runs for two and a half years.

The move ends a search for a new coach at a club struggling with poor results. United sits in 18th place in the Premier League. The team is in the relegation zone. It has won only one game in its last 10 matches. This is the worst start for the club in 40 years.

Pochettino is the eighth manager United has hired since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. The club had previously considered other candidates. These included Julian Nagelsmann, Eddie Howe, and Antonio Conte. However, Pochettino was the only person United spoke to directly for the job. A person with knowledge of the situation said United initially thought Pochettino was not available. They believed his contract with the U.S. team made him out of reach.

Pochettino signed a four-year deal with the U.S. soccer federation in August. That contract was set to run through the 2030 World Cup. United found a release clause in his agreement. This allowed them to make a formal offer. The club informed the U.S. federation of its intention to hire him on Wednesday. This was the day before they fired their current manager, Michael Carrick.

The decision to change managers was made after a meeting in Monaco. Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox met with minority owner Jim Ratcliffe. They recommended a new coach. The decision was finalized on Wednesday night. Carrick was told at the club's training ground on Thursday morning. He was less than six months into a two-year contract.

Carrick had led United to its worst start in four decades. Another source familiar with the process said the results were not acceptable. The delay in telling Carrick was due to an internal review. He was kept informed of the process as it unfolded. United cited Pochettino's high-intensity playing style as a key reason for his hire. The club also pointed to his record in developing players and building team culture.

Pochettino has managed Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea. He won the French title with PSG. He turned Tottenham into a challenger for the Premier League title. His last stint in England was with Chelsea in the 2023-24 season. Chelsea finished sixth in that league. They missed qualification for the Champions League. They also lost to Liverpool in the English League Cup final.

Pochettino helped the U.S. team reach the round of 16 at this year's World Cup. United executives said the timing was right for him to take on the role. They noted that his experience with the U.S. team re-energized him. The club believes he has the personality and skill set to fit the job. He is tasked with reviving a team that has not won the Premier League title since 2013.

Pochettino will make his first appearance in charge against Liverpool. That match is scheduled for Nov. 22. He joins a club that has been overtaken by rivals like Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal. United has not won the league title in 13 years. Pochettino will be the latest manager to attempt to bring the club back to the top of English soccer.