Mauricio Pochettino tearful during USA press conference before Man Utd move

Manchester United’s new head coach Mauricio Pochettino broke down in tears on Friday as he said leaving his role with the United States had been “one of the most difficult decisions” of his whole career.

United confirmed the Argentinian as their new head coach on Friday, just over 24 hours after they sacked Michael Carrick after the club’s worst start to a season since 1986.

Pochettino will take charge of the US’ Nations League matches against Haiti on Saturday and Tuesday before heading to Manchester next week, with his official start date being November 18.

He became emotional as he expressed his thanks to US Soccer staff at a press conference on Friday.

“It’s difficult now to talk for for me because I am a very emotional guy,” he said.

“I think always when we started to talk about that idea of become a head coach of this amazing country, this amazing federation, we were very excited about that, and to share a project that we really, really believe in, and a project and a programme that we were evolving together…..that is why it makes more difficult that decision. A decision that in some parts is a very sad decision.”

Flanked by US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone and its chief executive JT Batson, Pochettino added: “I am talking with my heart, and I want to say a big thank you to you, because we recovered our motivation.

“We recovered our capacity to dream big, the capacity to train players that really want to improve and really want to share good moments, and players that really care about the federation and this country, and they want to put the the country and the federation in the place that it deserves to be.”

As he tried to hold back tears, he said: “You never lied to us. The human being is in front of everything, and that is why this is a really difficult decision. But we need to move forward.

“But a big thank you from my heart and from my people, because you always were transparent.

“We learned a lot from you all, from this country. I think it was one of the most difficult decisions in our whole career.”

Pochettino’s appointment has the unanimous endorsement of United’s leadership and the ownership, the Press Association understands, and he was the only coach the club spoke to directly as a potential successor to Carrick.

Pochettino said Friday was “not the moment” to talk about United, with his focus being on his final two games in charge of the US.

Asked how the opportunity was put in front of him, he said: “All was so quick, because we arrive here last Friday and Sunday afternoon start to appear this type of situation and some contact, and we were very transparent.”

Details of the staff who will join Pochettino at United will be confirmed in the coming days.

The Argentinian was just three months into a new deal with US Soccer which was due to run until 2030, having taken up the US post in 2024.

In the summer he led the national team to the World Cup last 16 on home soil before defeat to Belgium, in a match overshadowed by the Folarin Balogun disciplinary controversy.

Batson and US Soccer’s chief operating officer Dan Helfrich will lead the search for Pochettino’s permanent successor, with former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola understood to be top of the federation’s wanted list.

Pochettino, who attended United’s 1999 treble-clinching Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich in Barcelona, has been close to joining United in the past, including in 2022 when the club opted to appoint Erik ten Hag instead.

He is a huge admirer of Sir Alex Ferguson – the man who managed that 1999 team as part of a glorious 26-year reign which ended in 2013.

Pochettino, who led Tottenham to the Champions League final in 2019 and has also managed in the Premier League at Southampton and Chelsea, becomes United’s eighth permanent boss since Ferguson.

He is set to address the media as United head coach for the first time towards the end of next week after he arrives in Manchester.

Meanwhile, outgoing United head coach Carrick posted on Instagram saying he wished “nothing but success” for the club, thanking the fans, his coaching staff and the players for their efforts.

“This club has been such a big part of my life and that will never change,” said Carrick, who won five Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League with United as a player.

“I’ll always be proud to have played my part and I’ll always want the very best for it.

“I’ll be right there with you from now on, watching from the sidelines, cheering the lads on.”