Mauricio Pochettino has been announced as Manchester United's new head coach, a move he described as "one of the most difficult decisions of my career". The appointment was confirmed on Friday, though Pochettino will first take charge of the United States national team in its two-legged CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final against Haiti before making the switch to Manchester. Football365 reports he has replaced Carrick on a contract running until 2029.

Pochettino, who took over the USA in September 2024, led the team to the Gold Cup final in 2025, where they lost to Mexico. At the World Cup the USA reached the last 16, their joint-best finish since reaching the last eight in 2002, though more was arguably expected of the co-hosts. He had signed a new four-year contract with the federation after the tournament, and Football365 reports that the deal included a release clause which Manchester United activated to secure him.S1S2

Speaking emotionally ahead of the Haiti first leg, Pochettino said leaving was "in some part, a very sad decision" but that he and his staff were professionals taking the next step in their dreams. Asked why he was leaving so soon after renewing, he said: "It's obvious. I never said I wanted to go back, but they know there aren't too many opportunities that happen in your career like Manchester United." He added that the USA extension had been a commitment to the federation, intended to last four years.S1S2

Pochettino has long been a Manchester United target and was seemingly close to joining the club in 2022 before it appointed Erik ten Hag. He has previously managed Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea, and Football365 notes his spell at PSG. Soccernews reports that, of managers who have overseen 30+ Premier League games, he has the 19th-best win ratio in the competition's history, winning 150 games at a 51% rate.S1S2

Contact between the two parties began quickly, with Pochettino saying talks started on a Sunday afternoon and that the USA federation had been kept fully informed. He said he would discuss the Manchester United job the following week, and that he would remain in charge of the USA for the international break because the team's games remained important and the players and staff understood the situation.S2