Manchester United close to securing Pochettino and USA target Guardiola

With the contract signing announced by Matteo Moretto, Mauricio Pochettino is set as the new manager of Manchester United, while the North American Football Federation has already identified Pep Guardiola as its top target for the upcoming national team manager position, still awaiting the termination of Michael Carrick.

The musical chairs is in full swing in world football, reflecting the movement of coaches between clubs and national teams. The U.S. Football Federation has defined Pep Guardiola as the dream successor for the national team coach. Matteo Moretto has already confirmed the completed deal between Manchester United and Mauricio Pochettino, with a full agreement between both parties.

Only the termination of Michael Carrick is still pending. With the imminent departure of the U.S. manager, the North American Football Federation is seeking a successor and has identified a strong name as a priority. According to the New York Times, Pep Guardiola is the federation's dream. The same source also states that the deal is difficult to finalize.

After leaving Manchester City, the Catalan coach expressed a desire to take a sabbatical year. He has also opened the door to a move into international football. As far as is known, The Athletic reports that Mauricio Pochettino will still lead the United States against Haiti on November 14 and 18. Thus, a new cycle begins both at Manchester United and with the North American national team.

U.S. Target: Pep Guardiola

A tweet from Matteo Moretto, posted on November 11, 2026, confirmed the full agreement, awaiting only the dismissal of Michael Carrick. Sources indicate that US Soccer expects to make Pep Guardiola the leading candidate to take over as head coach of the United States men's national team. The search will not be simple, as the pursuit of the Catalan manager will not be direct or easy, and should start with a direct contact.

Other Candidates for the Role

With Pochettino heading to Manchester United, a major vacancy emerges in the United States men's national team. The role appears attractive due to the new national training centre, the already established squad, and the emergence of young players. Pochettino was seen as an impact signing before the World Cup, and it is not surprising that an elite club still wants him.

B.J. Callaghan, voted MLS Coach of the Year after guiding Nashville SC to 77 points, will be one of the main contenders if the federation opts for an American coach instead of another ‘splash hire’ like Pochettino. Callaghan led the United States to win the CONCACAF Nations League in 2023 before taking over Nashville.

Nancy's stint at Celtic, after leaving Columbus Crew, was seen as a moment to forget, although the French coach has succeeded at all his stops. The current head of the U.S. U‑23s, former Los Angeles FC coach, likely forms part of the succession plan for the men's national team to replace Pochettino. Steve Cherundolo could take on a post‑Olympic contract in 2028, according to the federation.

According to The Athletic, Pep Guardiola remains the top target of US Soccer for the national team manager position. The federation is said to have contacted Jürgen Klopp before hiring Pochettino, a situation similar to Klopp's current role with Germany. Guardiola does not intend to stay out of management forever, and the United States may try to bring him back into the cycle by 2030.

Roberto Martínez also emerges as a possible candidate, offering European experience, although he failed to lead Belgium to a title and struggled with Portugal.