Mauricio Pochettino is leaving the United States men’s national team to become head coach at Manchester United after the Premier League club paid a $10 million release clause.
The agreement comes less than two years after U.S. Soccer hired the decorated Argentine manager in 2024. Manchester United will also pay about $2 million for his coaching assistants, Front Office Sports reported.
Pochettino will still coach the USMNT for its upcoming CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals against Haiti on Saturday and Tuesday. The Premier League returns from an international break on Nov. 21, with Manchester United heading to an away match against Liverpool at Anfield on Nov. 22.
“I think it was one of the most difficult decisions in our career,” Pochettino said in a press conference on Friday.
U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson said the federation will absorb the buyout from United rather than returning funds to hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin. Griffin previously covered a large portion of Pochettino’s $6 million annual salary and funded a recent contract extension agreement reached in August.
Manchester United fired head coach Michael Carrick on Thursday following a steep decline in form. The club sits in 18th place in the Premier League table with only one win through 10 matches.
“The opportunity to represent the USA crest was one of the greatest honors of my career,” Pochettino said in a statement.
Batson said that Pochettino raised performance standards and strengthened the organizational culture from youth programs up to the senior team.
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