Pochettino to Leave U.S. for Manchester United

Mauricio Pochettino is leaving the U.S. men’s national team to become Manchester United manager on a 2.5-year deal, ending a spell that had been extended through the 2030 World Cup. He is expected to finish the current international window with the U.S. before joining United, who recently sacked Michael Carrick and sit 18th after a disastrous start. U.S. players praised Pochettino’s playing identity and his role in their development, while striker Folarin Balogun said he would prefer the coach to stay. His departure leaves U.S. Soccer seeking a successor, with Pep Guardiola and under-23 coach Steve Cherundolo among possible options. At United, Marcus Rashford and other players are viewed as potential beneficiaries, and the club is reportedly considering U.S. internationals Balogun and Alex Freeman as transfer targets.