Manchester United appoint Mauricio Pochettino, who will coach the USA's two games against Haiti first

Manchester United appointed Mauricio Pochettino as head coach on Friday, a day after dismissing Michael Carrick. ESPN reports a two-and-a-half-year contract, agreed after United told U.S. Soccer it would trigger a $10 million release clause. United's statement called him "renowned for his high-intensity, attacking style of football."

Pochettino, 54, stays with the United States for both legs of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti, on Saturday and on Tuesday in Cincinnati. ESPN reports that he starts work at United's training ground on Wednesday. His first game is at Liverpool on Nov. 22.

United are 18th in the Premier League after one win, five draws and four defeats, which the Associated Press calls their worst league start in 40 years. The AP counts Pochettino as United's eighth permanent manager since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

He took the U.S. job in fall 2024 and led the co-hosts to the round of 16 at this year's World Cup. Three months ago U.S. Soccer announced a contract running through the 2030 World Cup, the AP reports. Chief executive JT Batson and chief operating officer Dan Helfrich will lead the search for a successor.