He cried at the goodbye. Mauricio Pochettino broke down in tears on Friday as he said farewell to the United States men's national team, hours after Manchester United confirmed him as their new head coach — calling the move "one of the most difficult decisions of my career," just months after he signed a new deal to lead America through the 2030 World Cup.
"It's difficult to talk now because I am a very emotional guy," Pochettino said, seated between U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone and chief executive JT Batson. "We learned a lot from you all, from this amazing country. I think this was one of the most difficult decisions of my career." More than once his voice gave way, and Batson reached over to pat his back. "You never lied to us," he told the federation's leaders.
United sacked Michael Carrick on Thursday after the club's worst start to a season since 1986, and moved fast. Pochettino, 54, was the only coach the club spoke to directly, and he takes over on a deal running to the summer of 2029. He starts officially on November 18 — but only after he finishes the job he promised America: two CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final matches against Haiti, on Saturday and again on Tuesday. "US Soccer and Manchester United agreed we would continue, and that will not change our commitment," he said. His first match in charge of United is expected to be against Liverpool on November 22.
The tears tell the story of what he is leaving. Pochettino took over the U.S. team in September 2024, led it to the last 16 of this year's World Cup, and finished with 21 wins, 12 losses and 2 draws in 35 matches. In August he signed a four-year extension through the 2030 World Cup and took a deep role in the federation's youth pathways. On Friday he explained why he is walking away anyway: "Yes, I had signed a new deal until 2030, but the federation knows not so many opportunities appear in your life like Manchester United." Carrick, the man he replaces, posted his own farewell wishing the club "nothing but success."
For American soccer fans, the mixed feeling is the honest one: the coach who rebuilt the national team and just committed to 2030 is leaving before the work is done — yet the size of the job that took him says something about how far the American game has come, when one of England's biggest clubs comes calling for the man on the U.S. bench. U.S. Soccer now has to find the coach who will actually lead the team to that home-continent 2030 World Cup — starting with whoever takes over after Tuesday's final whistle against Haiti.
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