American manager Mauricio Pochettino has officially taken over as manager of Manchester United, with his term ending in June 2029.

Manchester United officially announced on Friday that Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to take over as first-team manager. He will officially assume the role on November 18, with a contract expected to last until June 30, 2029.

Manchester United reportedly paid $10 million in severance pay to the U.S. Soccer Federation to secure the appointment. The U.S. Soccer Federation recently extended Pochettino's contract for four years in August, extending his term until after the 2030 World Cup.

Pochettino was born in 1972 in Mufi, central Argentina. During his playing career, he played for several teams, including Newell's Old Boys, Espanyol, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bordeaux. He also made 20 appearances for the Argentine national team, including in the 1999 Copa America and the 2002 World Cup.

In January 2009, Pochettino began his independent managerial career with Espanyol. He subsequently managed Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, leading Paris Saint-Germain to one Ligue 1 title, one French Cup, and one French Super Cup.

In September 2024, Pochettino succeeded Greg Berhart as head coach of the U.S. national team. To date, he has led the team to a record of 22 wins, 1 draw, and 12 losses, and has reached the final of the 2025 Gold Cup and the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

Regarding the appointment, Pochettino said at a press conference before the US match against Haiti: "It's rare to have the opportunity to manage Manchester United in your career. When it comes in front of you, it's really hard to refuse."

“I would like to thank you all. You have made me feel very comfortable from the very beginning, enabling me to work happily, participate in a wonderful project together, and be a part of this big family.”

"I still remember the moment when we talked about me becoming the head coach of the United States. We were very excited and eager to share a project that we firmly believed in, a plan that we were working together to advance and improve. That's why making this decision was so difficult."

"In a sense, this is a sad decision. From a professional perspective, we also need to explore the next steps for development and strive to realize our respective dreams."

"I think the most important thing is everything we left behind in the United States: the time we spent together, all the achievements we made, the systems we built, and the standards we worked together to raise at the Football Association and globally."

Image source: Internet/BBC