Tears have filled Mauricio Pochettino’s eyes as he discussed quitting the US national team for his dream job with Manchester United.
“In some parts, it’s a very sad decision, in other parts, we are professional and we need also to try to find the next step, to try and make your dreams come true,” said the Argentine.
Just three months after the US Soccer Federation announced his contract to lead the Americans through the 2030 World Cup, Pochettino said on Friday he would depart next week for Old Trafford.
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He’ll be trying to revive the 20-time English champions, in the relegation zone after 10 games of the Premier League season – a job that has proved beyond every manager since the great Alex Ferguson left Old Trafford.
“There’s not too many opportunities that can happen in your career like Manchester United and, of course, when that arrives, it’s difficult to turn down,” Pochettino said during an emotional news conference at the US team training camp on Friday.
He’s signed a two-and-a-half year contract and will take over on November 18, four days before the match at United’s greatest rivals Liverpool, as he becomes United’s eighth permanent coach or manager since Ferguson retired in 2013.
Pochettino choked up at a news conference, crying and rubbing his hands at the “difficult” decision.
“In some part, this is a very sad decision,” an emotional Pochettino said.
“In another part, we are professionals. This is the next step to try and make your dreams come true.
“The most important thing is that we leave here, the moments we shared together, the things that we accomplished… all the standards we put together, we have increased.
“I haven’t prepared that speech. It all came from the heart. Thank you for giving me the capacity to dream big. The players want to put the country and federation in the place they want to be.
“The human being is everything. That is why this is a difficult decision. A big thank you from my heart. We learnt a lot from this country, these amazing people.
“One of the most difficult decisions of my career.”
He did not want to speak about the state of United. The English club said the 54-year-old Argentine was “renowned for his high-intensity, attacking style of football, his dedication to building strong, cohesive teams and his outstanding record of developing individual players.”
His appointment came one day after Michael Carrick was fired for overseeing United’s worst league start in 40 years, with United 18th in the 20-team league.
Pochettino told his US players and staff of his decision in a meeting on Thursday.
After coaching Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea in the Premier League, Espanyol in Spain and winning the French title with Paris St Germain, Pochettino is taking a job that’s seen as a bit of poisoned chalice with United having not won the league since Ferguson’s last season.
Champions League-winning coaches Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho failed to meet United’s expectations, while David Moyes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag and Carrick also came up short.
Despite winning the French league with PSG in 2022, arguably Pochettino’s greatest achievement was turning Tottenham into a serial title contender in the Premier League and also leading the club to the Champions League final in 2019.
But he’s never won a major trophy in England, most recently losing the final of the League Cup with Chelsea in 2024.
