Mauricio Pochettino's move from the US men's national team to Manchester United has been confirmed. He will guide the USA through two Concacaf Nations League matches on Saturday and Tuesday before taking charge at United, with his first game due at Liverpool next Sunday. The former Chelsea, Tottenham and Southampton manager has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal to replace Michael Carrick, who was sacked on Thursday after leading United to their worst start to a season in four decades. United have won one of their past 11 games and sit in the Premier League's relegation zone.

United made Pochettino their first-choice target once it became clear Carrick would be dismissed, holding talks only with the Argentinian despite interest in former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann. The leadership group selected him and the decision was signed off by Sir Jim Ratcliffe this week. The club were drawn to his personality and his ability to build a strong dressing-room culture, and they wanted a more experienced coach whose long-term record of player development and clear philosophy would suit the club's current needs. To secure his services, United paid the US federation about $10m (£7.5m), with an additional fee for Pochettino's longtime assistants.S2

Pochettino had signed a new four-year contract with US Soccer in August, giving him greater control over youth development and the overall direction of the men's programme. He was hired in September 2024 to steer the US through their first home World Cup in 32 years, and over the following two years compiled a 21-12-2 record and guided the team to the World Cup last 16. In a statement on Friday he thanked the federation and said there was tremendous talent in the US player pool from youth teams through to the senior side.S2

Players not on international duty were told they did not need to return to training until next week, and Pochettino's first day with United is expected to be Thursday, after the USA's second game against Haiti finishes in the early hours of Wednesday GMT. Meanwhile, TEAMtalk reports that Pochettino is already eyeing two familiar faces from his USA squad for his first signings: defender Alex Freeman, who joined Villarreal in January 2026 and helped the club qualify for the Champions League and can play as a full-back, wing-back or in central defence, and striker Folarin Balogun, whom Monaco signed in 2023 after he scored 21 goals in 37 games for Stade Reims. The reports say Pochettino will have to wait until the January transfer window to make changes to his squad.S1S2