Mauricio Pochettino is leaving the U.S. men’s national team to manage Manchester United after just over two years at the helm. The 54-year-old Argentine will take a 2 ½-year contract with the English club but will finish the current cycle against Haiti. Players like Folarin Balogun and Sebastian Berhalter say his coaching style and the team identity he built must remain even after he departs. The federation hired him to build a long-term project, but the club job in England pulled him away sooner than expected.
The U.S. Soccer Federation brought Pochettino back for a four-year extension only three months ago, yet the team is already searching for a new manager. This quick turnaround leaves a void, but the culture he instilled during his short tenure remains the program’s most valuable asset. The players insist that the clear sense of identity and playing style he created should not vanish just because the coach is gone. At the National Training Center outside Atlanta, Balogun informed reporters he would support maintaining the current arrangement.
The Players Demand Continuity
Reports from The New York Post indicate that the players had been aware of the rumors since Monday, but the mood at camp on Thursday was odd as they waited for official news. The team gathered in Fayetteville, Georgia, under the sun, watching every move Pochettino made before his departure. Balogun spoke directly about the coach’s impact, stating, “If I had a vote, I would like to keep things the way they are.” He added that the team has a clear playing style and that top coaches should stay when things work well.
Sebastian Berhalter, the son of former coach Gregg Berhalter, offered a personal tribute to the man who guided him. He noted that Pochettino believed in him from day one, even before he stepped onto the field. “Personally, on the field and off the field, he’s done a lot for me,” Berhalter said. He explained that the coach told him his actions were already right, regardless of the outcome on the pitch. This trust helped the player develop as both an athlete and a person.
The team also includes young talent like Cavan Sullivan, who is set to join Manchester City soon. Sullivan praised the mentorship he received during this short window. “He’s taken me under his wing in the most tremendous way possible,” Sullivan said Tuesday. The loss of this guidance is significant for a player who is just starting his international career. The players agree that the foundation laid by Pochettino is strong enough to support the team moving forward.
A Foundation Built in Record Time
The Stars and Stripes reached the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 16 under Pochettino’s brief yet influential tenure. The team showed great potential and electrified the country during the home World Cup, though they eventually fell to Belgium in a 4-1 defeat. Despite not winning a trophy like the Concacaf Nations League or the Gold Cup, the coach laid a solid foundation for future growth. Berhalter told reporters that Pochettino made the team even more proud to be American, despite being an Argentinian coach.
The move to Manchester United was a dream job for the 54-year-old, who has long talked about returning to the Premier League. United, which holds 20 league titles, is currently struggling with a 1-5-4 start and sits in the relegation zone. The club decided to part ways with Michael Carrick on Thursday morning, opening the door for Pochettino.
Even with the abrupt nature of the exit, the coach’s influence on the program is undeniable. He has been linked to the United job on three separate occasions before, including interviews in 2014, 2016, and 2022. A well-publicized meal with Sir Alex Ferguson in 2016 was seen as a sign of his eventual path to the role. Now, he leaves the U.S. program with a reputation for building trust and a clear identity in a very short time.
With the Nations League and Gold Cup trophies on the line next year, U.S. Soccer must quickly appoint a successor. Qualifying for the 2030 World Cup will begin after those tournaments, making the timing critical. Fox Sports reports that Pep Guardiola is a dream candidate who has an affinity for America, though he has said he might never manage another club after leaving Manchester City. Guardiola told the press that building a long-term project in the USA is a captivating endeavor.
Other names, such as Pellegrino Matarazzo and Roberto Martinez, are also in the conversation. Matarazzo, a native of New Jersey, led Real Sociedad to win the Copa del Rey and is considered a rising European talent. Martinez resigned as Portugal’s coach after a loss to Spain in the World Cup round of 16. He has experience working for Americans as an analyst during ESPN’s 2014 World Cup coverage. Steve Cherundolo, currently the Olympic team coach, is another option for the federation.
The immediate task is to finish the current window against Haiti. Pochettino is anticipated to stay in charge for the USMNT’s two games, starting with Saturday’s match in Miami. Tuesday will see the team competing again in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. These games serve as the final test of the system he built before the search for a new leader begins in earnest.
The culture he built remains the piece of Pochettino’s tenure that matters most for the long term. Sebastian Berhalter summed up the sentiment of the camp when he said, “Him leaving, him staying, he’s just created a great foundation and a great base for this team.” The players believe this base is strong enough to carry the national team forward. The federation must now decide if they can find a coach who respects and maintains that same identity.
