Mauricio Pochettino named new USA men's head coach - ESPN

Mauricio Pochettino is the new manager of the United States men's national team, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced Tuesday.

Pochettino, 52, signed a two-year contract that will take him through the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico. He succeeds Gregg Berhalter, who was fired after the USMNT's poor showing at this summer's Copa América.

Pochettino will be introduced Friday in New York.

«Mauricio is a serial winner with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive and competitive teams,» USSF sporting director Matt Crocker said in a statement. «His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad. We are thrilled to have Mauricio on board as we embark on this exciting journey to achieve success on the global stage.»

ESPN reported last month the former Argentina international had agreed to take the job after lengthy discussions with Crocker. Crocker, who previously worked with Pochettino at Premier League team Southampton, had been charged with recruiting a world-class coach to ensure the USMNT goes into the 2026 World Cup as a competitive nation, capable of reaching the latter stages of the competition.

Pochettino certainly brings with him a coaching pedigree that is unmatched in the history of the USMNT. The Argentine has coached at some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. In that time, he has coached some of the top players in the game, including Lionel Messi, Neymar and Harry Kane. In addition to Southampton, he has managed Spanish side Espanyol, where he also spent considerable time as a player.

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