Pochettino signed with the US until 2030. Three months later he is crying his way out the door to rescue Manchester United from 18th

Mauricio Pochettino is leaving the US men’s national team to manage Manchester United, ending a tenure that peaked at this year’s home World Cup, only three months after he committed his future to the Americans.

The 54-year-old Argentine confirmed the move on Friday, US time, and was visibly emotional as he did. He called it “the most difficult decision of my career, but we need to move forward.” He finalised the agreement with United on Thursday and signed a contract that runs for two and a half years. United finalised the deal by triggering a release clause in his US Soccer contract, reported to be about US$10 million.

Pochettino will stay in charge for the US team’s two Concacaf Nations League quarter-finals against Haiti, on Saturday and Tuesday, US time, before he heads to Manchester.

Why would he walk away from a contract to 2030?

Because, in his words, not many chances like Manchester United come along in a career. Talks accelerated only last Sunday, and less than a week later the deal was done.

He thanked US Soccer chief executive JT Batson, saying the federation had never lied to him, which made the decision harder. He said he had not prepared a speech and was speaking with his heart.

What did he achieve with the US?

He was hired in September 2024 to replace Gregg Berhalter, with the home World Cup as the target. At the 2026 tournament the US topped its group and won a knockout match for the first time since 2002 before going out in the round of 16. His three World Cup wins are the most by any US men’s head coach. His overall record was 21 wins, 12 losses and two draws.

In August he signed an extension that would have kept him in charge through the 2030 World Cup.

What is he walking into at United?

A crisis. United sit 18th in the Premier League, in the relegation zone, after dismissing Michael Carrick, who had been in the job for about 10 months. Pochettino’s first match is expected to be away at Liverpool on 22 November, the fixture United fans would least choose for a fresh start.

He knows the Premier League well. He managed Southampton from 2013 to 2014, then built the Tottenham side that reached the 2019 Champions League final, and spent a season at Chelsea from 2023 to 2024. What he has never done is win the English title, and at United the immediate task is survival, not silverware.

Who coaches the US now?

No one has been named. Steve Cherundolo, the under-23 coach, will lead the December camp, which will feature a mostly MLS-based squad. US Soccer said the search would draw on input from across the federation and the global game, with US women’s coach Emma Hayes involved alongside Batson, chief operating officer Dan Helfrich and vice-president of sporting Oguchi Onyewu.