Mauricio Pochettino Calls Move to Manchester United His Toughest Career Decision

Mauricio Pochettino, the Argentine head coach of the US soccer team, has announced his departure to become the new manager of Manchester United. He described this choice as one of the most challenging decisions of his career.

Pochettino, 54, spoke to reporters shortly after being named Manchester United’s manager, following the firing of Michael Carrick. He reflected on his two-year tenure with the US team, which included leading them to the last 16 of the recent World Cup.

During his farewell, Pochettino expressed gratitude to the staff and players, stating, “You made me feel really happy sharing an amazing project.” He acknowledged the emotional difficulty of leaving, saying, “It’s difficult now for me to finish.” He will continue to coach the US team for their upcoming matches against Haiti before fully transitioning to his new role.

Pochettino noted that discussions about joining Manchester United progressed quickly after he arrived in the US. He mentioned that he had not initially planned to return to the Premier League when he signed a contract extension with US Soccer in August. However, he felt that the opportunity to manage a prestigious club like Manchester United was too significant to ignore.

Despite his commitment to the US team, Pochettino emphasized that the chance to coach Manchester United was a rare opportunity in his career. He expressed appreciation for the support he received from his players during this transition.