Mauricio Pochettino Leaves US Team for Manchester United Post

UPDATE - follow-up to Pochettino bids tearful farewell to USA after Manchester United appointment; Carrick thanks fans: football – live: Mauricio Pochettino will officially take over as Manchester United head coach next week after finishing his final two games with the United States men's national team.

Club Details

Pochettino has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at Old Trafford. He replaces Michael Carrick, who was sacked on Thursday after leading United to their worst start to a season in four decades. The club reached an agreement with the U.S. Soccer Federation to release Pochettino and his staff after their upcoming Concacaf Nations League matches against Haiti on Saturday and Tuesday. His first match in charge will be away at Liverpool on November 22.

Reactions

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp expressed support for the appointment, noting that United are rock-bottom so the only way is up, though he warned it will take two or three years to fix. Harry's son, Jamie Redknapp, described Pochettino as an elite manager but questioned whether club executives Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada are lucky to keep their jobs given how poorly run the club has been. During an emotional press conference, Pochettino wiped away tears and thanked fans and the federation, stating that a club like Manchester United presents an opportunity that is difficult to turn down.

Context

Pochettino brings extensive prior Premier League experience from managing Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea, alongside spells at Espanyol and Paris Saint-Germain. Manchester United have struggled to find sustained success since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, cycling through multiple permanent and interim managers without claiming another league title.