Pochettino explains United move as 18 November start is confirmed

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Mauricio Pochettino has described leaving the United States for Manchester United as one of the hardest decisions of his career, after his appointment was confirmed on Friday. He will begin work at Old Trafford on 18 November, succeeding Michael Carrick.

Speaking at a USA press conference later in the day, an emotional Pochettino said the opportunity to manage United was difficult to turn down. He thanked the federation and stressed that his immediate attention remained on the national team’s two upcoming matches against Haiti.

United said they had reached an agreement with the U.S. Soccer Federation for Pochettino and his staff to be released after completing their international responsibilities. Sky Sports reported that the 54-year-old has signed a contract running until the summer of 2029.

The move returns Pochettino to Premier League club management following previous spells at Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea. He also coached Espanyol and Paris Saint-Germain, winning the French league title during his time in Paris.

United highlighted his record of developing players and building teams around an energetic attacking approach. At Tottenham, he secured four successive Champions League qualifications and led the club to the 2019 final.

His most recent assignment took the USA to the last 16 of this year’s World Cup. Despite the move being agreed, he told reporters that discussing United’s future could wait until next week and that he intended to finish the current international camp fully committed to the job.

The first scheduled United match under Pochettino is away to Liverpool on 22 November. A Champions League trip to Sporting follows on 25 November before Brentford visit Old Trafford on 28 November.

He inherits a side in the Premier League relegation zone after ten matches. Carrick’s dismissal on Thursday followed a poor start to the season, making an immediate improvement in league results the new coach’s central challenge.