Mauricio Pochettino is leaving his post as head coach of the U.S. men’s national soccer team to take over at Manchester United, just months after signing a contract extension meant to carry him through the 2030 World Cup.
Manchester United fired manager Michael Carrick on Thursday and triggered a reported $10 million buyout clause in Pochettino’s USMNT contract, plus an additional $2 million to bring over his coaching staff. The 54-year-old Argentine will now try to pull the storied English club out of the Premier League relegation zone.
Pochettino had been with U.S. Soccer since October 2024 and led the Americans to a round-of-16 finish at this summer’s World Cup. He has deep roots in the European game, having guided Tottenham Hotspur to the 2019 Champions League final, managed Chelsea for the 2023-24 season, and won a Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain. He was even floated as a candidate for AC Milan back in June, before that job went to former United manager Ruben Amorim.
Reaction from the analysts
On his podcast “State of the Union with Alexi Lalas,” soccer analyst Alexi Lalas said fans shouldn’t act surprised.
“This is not surprising. Anybody that feels jilted, I think you’re being naive.”
FOX Soccer analyst Stu Holden was more pointed about the federation’s decision to extend Pochettino’s contract in the first place.
“It just feels a little disingenuous.”
Lalas noted that the possibility of an early exit was built into the deal from the start.
“He was very upfront and honest about this, so much so that there was even recognition in the contract on both sides. This is a creation of Mauricio Pochettino and the U.S. Soccer Federation.”
Holden offered a blunter comparison for how the arrangement played out.
“I feel like the side chick a little bit, in the way that we’re just kind of hand in hand with Pochettino until the next big thing comes along.”
Lalas agreed with the framing.
“With every side chick, everyone eventually takes them aside and asks, how did you not see this? How did you not see the signs?”
Even so, Holden said he’s rooting for Pochettino’s success at Old Trafford.
“Full disclosure, I really like Mauricio Pochettino, he’s a good coach, he’s got the vibes, he’s got the aura. I hope he succeeds. But I feel like you always knew this would come soon, and it has come sooner than what you or everybody thought.”
