MIAMI — The Mauricio Pochettino era is over.
The manager has left the United States men's national team, U.S. Soccer announced on Friday, Nov. 13.
Pochettino is becoming manager of Premier League club Manchester United, which sacked Michael Carrick on Thursday, Nov. 12.
Pochettino took over the USMNT in summer 2024, leading the team to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup on home soil. He signed a contract extension after that tournament that would've kept him with the U.S. through the 2030 World Cup.
But Manchester United is paying the manager's release clause, reportedly in the neighborhood of $10 million, and the former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager will return to the Premier League.
Given his reputation for managing teams in Europe,
Pochettino was frequently mentioned as a candidate for club jobs even as he led the U.S. Before the 2026 World Cup, Pochettino conceded the reports of his agent being in touch with Italy's AC Milan may have been accurate — even if he himself was focused on the tournament.
Pochettino has a record of 21 wins, two draws and 12 losses with the USMNT. He will have a chance to add to that total when he leads the U.S. for the final time in November's Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti.
Pochettino will stay in charge of all USMNT activities through the end of the current camp and current U-23 coach Steve Cherundolo will take over the team's previously-scheduled December camp that is set to feature primarily MLS players, U.S. Soccer said.
"The opportunity to represent the USA crest was one of the greatest honors of my career. We are so grateful to the players for their commitment, to the fans for their belief, and to the Federation for always supporting our staff and creating the opportunities to impact the culture of soccer in this great country,” Pochettino said.
The USMNT faces Haiti in a two-leg series, with the first match on Saturday, Nov. 14 in Miami and the second on Tuesday, Nov. 17 in Cincinnati.
“Mauricio has left a lasting mark on U.S. Soccer through his leadership, professionalism and commitment to our players and culture,” U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson said in a statement. “What we are most proud of goes beyond the wins. He and his staff raised standards, strengthened our culture and created clearer connections from the youth national teams to the senior team. Those changes are now embedded in how we operate, and we will keep building on them as we pursue sustained success on the world stage.”
While he was not able to lift a major trophy with the U.S., Pochettino will be credited with re-energizing supporters during the 2026 World Cup which started with convincing victories over Paraguay and Australia, plus a knockout triumph over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He also looks to have kick-started a youth movement, bringing teenagers such as Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan, his club teammate defender Neil Pierre, Orlando City forward Justin Ellis and New York Red Bulls duo Julian Hall and Adri Mehmeti into the fold for September and October friendlies, and handing them a recall for the Haiti matches.
Who will replace Mauricio Pochettino as USMNT manager?
It remains to be seen if the U.S. will again work with donors to bring in a big-name manager who would demand a high-dollar salary, or appoint a coach more along the lines of those who traditionally have led the U.S.
Candidates of both varieties are available, with U.S. U-23 manager Steve Cherundolo and Nashville SC coach B.J. Callaghan, who previously led the U.S. in an interim capacity, both likely of interest to the federation.
A huge swing, though, like former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola isn't off the table. Guardiola spent much of his sabbatical year in the U.S. and has expressed interest in joining ex-colleagues like Carlo Ancelotti and Jurgen Klopp leading international teams.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mauricio Pochettino leaves USMNT to become Man United boss
