Mauricio Pochettino has officially stepped down from his role as head coach of the United States men’s national soccer team to take over as manager of Manchester United. In a heartfelt press conference, Pochettino referred to the decision as ‘one of the most difficult’ of his career.
The Argentine coach, who recently extended his contract with US Soccer through 2030, spoke emotionally about his two-year tenure in the United States. He noted the rapid nature of the negotiations that led to his appointment with Manchester United, following the dismissal of Michael Carrick.
Reflecting on his time with the US team, Pochettino expressed gratitude towards the staff and players, emphasizing how much he learned during his time in the country. ‘It’s difficult now for me to finish,’ he said. ‘I want to thank you all for the last two years. You made me feel really happy sharing an amazing project.’
Pochettino plans to fulfill his obligations with the US national team, overseeing their upcoming CONCACAF Nations League matches against Haiti before fully transitioning to his new role in the English Premier League.
During his remarks, he also acknowledged the swift developments that led to his new position, stating that discussions began rapidly upon his arrival last Friday. He assured that both US Soccer and Manchester United had agreed on his commitments during this transition.
While Pochettino had previously stated he did not intend to return to the Premier League, he conceded that the opportunity to manage Manchester United was too significant to ignore.
