Mauricio Pochettino Appointed as New Manchester United Manager Following Departure From US National Team

Manchester United has announced the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as the club's new manager. The 54-year-old Argentine coach succeeds Michael Carrick and is scheduled to officially begin his duties at Old Trafford on November 18, 2026. The decision comes at a critical time for the club, which currently sits in the relegation zone of the Premier League. Manchester United is ranked 18th in the standings, having earned 8 points from 10 matches played in the current campaign.

A Transition for the United States and Manchester United

Mauricio Pochettino's departure from the United States Men's National Team follows a period that included 35 matches, resulting in 21 wins, 2 draws, and 12 losses. During his tenure, the United States Men's National Team reached the Round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup, where they lost 4-1 to Belgium. Regarding his exit from the national team, Mauricio Pochettino said, "Leaving the US team was a very sad decision, but the opportunity at Manchester United was too big to refuse." He also stated, "The opportunity to represent the USA crest was one of the greatest honors of my career."

The transition involves a buyout clause for the United States Soccer contract estimated at US$10 million. While Mauricio Pochettino completes his remaining responsibilities with the United States Men's National Team, the squad is scheduled to play two matches against Haiti in the 2026 CONCACAF Nations League on November 14 and November 17. According to Argentinan media, Pep Guardiola is a candidate to replace Mauricio Pochettino as the US national team coach.

Pochettino's Path Forward

The new manager brings extensive experience to Old Trafford, having previously managed Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain. His contract with Manchester United is set to expire in 2029. The club faces significant pressure to improve its performance, as they have not won the Premier League since 2013 and have not won the Champions League since 2008. Since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United has employed over ten different managers.

According to New Zealand media, Mauricio Pochettino's first match as Manchester United manager will be against Liverpool at Anfield on November 22, 2026. This match marks a significant challenge for the new manager as the club seeks to climb out of the bottom three of the league standings.

Glossary

• Old Trafford — Old Trafford is a cricket ground located in Greater Manchester, England. It has served as the home of the Manchester Cricket Club since 1857 and the Lancashire County Cricket Club since 1864.
• Premier League — The Premier League is the top division of the English football league system. It was established following a split from the Football League.
• relegation zone — The relegation zone refers to the bottom positions in a league standings. Teams in this zone are at risk of being moved out of the current division.
• United States Men's National Team — The United States men's national team is a soccer team assembled in 1885. It competes in international matches and tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup.
• Round of 16 — The Round of 16 is a stage in a tournament where the top eight teams from each group advance to play. In this stage, teams compete in a single-elimination tournament on a single-leg basis.