Manchester United Poached From U.S. Soccer: Pochettino Deal Imminent
The Argentine manager signs with the English club two days before Haiti, leaving a four-year extension voided by a break clause.
By Nadia Rahman ·
Manchester United has not won an English league title since 2013, a drought that stretches over 13 years. The club currently sits in 18th place out of 20 teams in the standings. If the season concluded today, the historic side would drop into a lower division. Mauricio Pochettino is closing in on a deal to take charge of that struggling squad.
The move came just 48 hours before the United States was scheduled to face Haiti in the CONCACAF Nations League. Pochettino, who took over the U.S. program in 2024, had previously extended his contract through the 2030 World Cup. He signed that four-year deal in August, citing the "magic" of the 2026 tournament. A break clause in his contract, however, allowed United to trigger a release as they searched for a new manager after firing Michael Carrick on Thursday.
Pochettino’s tenure with the U.S. produced a tactical shift that delighted fans and analysts alike. The Americans won consecutive matches at the 2026 World Cup for the first time since 1930. They advanced from the group stage with a game to spare, setting a new record for victories at a single tournament. The run ended in the round of 16 with a 4-1 loss to Belgium.
During the tournament, Pochettino embraced the surge in public support. Record television audiences and stadium crowds singing "Take Me Home, Country Roads" created an atmosphere he described as an "amazing and perfect connection." He noted that even as a non-American, he felt emotional after a 2-0 win over Australia.
U.S. players credited the coach for instilling a resilient mindset. Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said Pochettino made the team "even more proud to be American." Striker Folarin Balogun, who scored three goals during the tournament, praised the manager for laying the foundation for the squad's development.
Pochettino had coached in Europe's top leagues with Tottenham, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain before moving to the national team. He has been long admired by Manchester United. The club is tied for the most league titles in history with 20, but their current position in the table signals a need for a rescue mission.
U.S. soccer officials will now move quickly to find a replacement for the 2030 World Cup, which will be held in Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. Reports indicate they are eyeing Pep Guardiola, a 55-year-old who has never coached a national team. Guardiola has won three La Liga titles with Barcelona, three Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich, and six Premier League titles with Manchester City.
The next coach will inherit a roster with an average age of 26, one of the youngest at the 2026 World Cup. Key players include 25-year-old Folarin Balogun and 22-year-old defender Alex Freeman. Pochettino had noted before the tournament that the U.S. did not have any players ranked in the top 100 globally, a stark contrast to the financial power of European clubs.
