Mauricio Pochettino Leaves US Role for Manchester United’s Relegation Fight

Mauricio Pochettino is set to leave the United States men’s national team and take charge of Manchester United, according to announcements from both organisations. The Argentine coach is due to finish his immediate duties with the US side before beginning at Old Trafford on November 18, as the Premier League club fights to climb out of the relegation zone. Before moving to England, Pochettino will oversee the United States in its upcoming CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final legs against Haiti. US Soccer said his responsibilities with the national team would conclude after those fixtures. Manchester United stated that it had reached an agreement with the federation for Pochettino and his staff to be released. British media reports say his contract with the club runs until 2029. The appointment comes at a difficult moment for United. After 10 league matches, the club has managed one win and eight points, leaving it 18th in the table, a point above last place. It has won only three of 15 games across all competitions and is enduring its worst league start in four decades, the report says. Pochettino’s first match is expected to be a high-pressure contest against Liverpool at Anfield on November 22. His arrival follows Michael Carrick’s departure, which came after a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa and a 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. Those results had prompted supporters to question the club’s direction. The coach is returning to club football after two years leading the United States. He said representing the country had been one of the greatest honours of his career and thanked the players, fans and federation for their support. The report says the US team reached the last 16 at the 2026 World Cup before losing to Belgium. British media also reported that United would pay US Soccer about US$10 million in compensation for his release.