Pochettino Reportedly Set to Leave USMNT for Manchester United After Carrick Sacking

Manchester United fired manager Michael Carrick on Thursday after a poor run of results, and multiple reports say Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the U.S. men's national team, will replace him, with an announcement expected Friday. Reports say the deal would run 2½ seasons and that United intends to trigger a release clause of nearly $10 million (£7 million) in Pochettino's U.S. Soccer contract, which was extended in August through the 2030 World Cup. Pochettino is reportedly leaving the USMNT after the current international window and would coach the team's two games against Haiti, the first on Saturday in Miami. U.S. Soccer had not issued an official comment, and Carrick had been given a two-year contract less than six months earlier.

Right-leaning New York Post and Fox News lead with the money: the Post frames the move as a $10 million bombshell and quotes player Sebastian Berhalter praising Pochettino, while Fox's tracker stresses the buyout clause and the extra cost of his assistants. Left-leaning The Guardian centres on the USMNT's succession, asking how the team can replace him and quoting U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson on succession planning. Its Will Unwin column instead focuses on Manchester United's internal discipline, including Bruno Fernandes being dropped after criticising tactics. The sides agree Pochettino is expected to leave; the right stresses cost and the transfer, while the left stresses the national team's future and the club's problems.