Could USMNT stomach losing Pochettino to Man United? Who could replace him?

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• Cesar Hernandez

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• Lizzy Becherano

Nov 11, 2026, 10:28 AM ET

Should he stay or should he go? That's the question on the minds of soccer fans on both sides of the Atlantic, with news that Manchester United could turn to U.S. men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino as the replacement for the likely soon-to-be-sacked Michael Carrick.

Pochettino has spoken of his desire to return to European club management, specifically in the Premier League, throughout his two-year spell in the States. Now, though, U.S. soccer fans face the very real possibility of him packing his bags and going long before the 2030 expiration on the contract he signed in August.

If he does leave, U.S. Soccer has a number of questions to answer. ESPN gets a head start on some of those questions by posing them to Jeff Carlisle, Cesar Hernandez and Lizzy Becherano.

How big of a loss would Pochettino's departure be?

Carlisle: There's no sugarcoating this. Pochettino's departure would be damaging to the program. Just how much would depend on who replaces him, but if he were to leave, the USMNT would be starting from zero in terms of culture and tactical direction.

That first part is the most concerning. Pochettino spent much of his time rebuilding the accountability and competitiveness within the squad, which had gotten stale prior to his arrival. If he leaves, that will have to be rebuilt, and there's no guarantee that culture will continue. A different coach will have a different vibe, and who knows how the team will take to that new manager?

It's hard to imagine things being better than they were under a manager as respected as Pochettino.

Hernandez: Pretty significant! The USMNT would be hitting the reset button once again after just two years. Obviously, recent positive results through four wins have helped with this next thought, but just when it looked like Pochettino had finally built a very strong foundation that incorporated a new generation of players, the U.S. would then have to tear that all down and build a new identity and direction back up.

We'll see what this means in the short term as well in the upcoming Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. Although someone like Antonee Robinson recently stated that the players are not distracted by the rumors, it must still be in the back of their minds when considering that Pochettino reportedly is open to taking the Manchester United position.

Becherano: His departure would be a big loss for the program as a whole. Pochettino seems to be focusing on youth development during this new chapter with the USMNT, setting up the four-year World Cup cycle nicely. He slowly has begun to improve the USMNT's roster depth concerns, but leaving now would halt all progress. Young players like Julian Hall, Justin Ellis and Cavan Sullivan would take the biggest hit.

The larger problem would then be finding a coach who's willing to work with less experienced players while maintaining a focus on the team's mindset in order to continue the momentum gained under Pochettino.

Who would be your (realistic) ideal replacement?

Hernandez: B.J. Callaghan, after the end of the MLS Cup playoffs, makes the most sense. He has had a brilliant year with Nashville SC and already has experience with the USMNT as an interim and assistant coach. There are a handful of high-profile coaches from abroad -- Gareth Southgate, Julian Nagelsmann, Pep Guardiola -- who come to mind when thinking of free agents, but they won't be cheap.

All that said, considering the never-ending pull that Europe has had for Pochettino, U.S. Soccer might consider a domestic option such as Callaghan who wouldn't bring that baggage.

Becherano: It depends on how much time U.S. Soccer is willing to spend on the search. A logical course of action would be to elevate former LAFC head coach and current U.S. U23 manager Steve Cherundolo to the senior team, ensuring a seamless transition.

Monterrey head coach Matías Almeyda could be a decent option if swayed to leave his role in Liga MX. The Argentine manager has a similar mindset to Pochettino when it comes to culture, constantly demanding commitment from his players. He also has a talent for creating a strong sense of group and identity in the teams he coaches. He believes in young players and seeks to bring out their potential. It might be seen as a downgrade when comparing résumés, but he could be the figure to maintain the project Pochettino has built.

Carlisle: If you're looking at American candidates, I think there are two choices: Cherundolo and Callaghan. Both have been successful in MLS. Cherundolo has the added benefit of having coaching gigs overseas as an assistant, while Callaghan got a taste of international management during an interim stint with the USMNT.

But given how the U.S. Soccer Federation splashed the cash to get Pochettino, one gets the sense that it will look to bring in an established manager from overseas. Guardiola is the name who jumps out given his availability, although he is just five months into a sabbatical. The question is: Would he take the job? If he doesn't, expect the USSF to still take a big swing. Nagelsmann and Didier Deschamps are available. Someone of that ilk just might be where the USSF lands.

What would be Pochettino's legacy with the USMNT?

Becherano: The shift in mindset. The U.S. felt somewhat complacent before Pochettino arrived, resting on the laurels of previous achievements instead of chasing improvement. The Argentine manager came in to revolutionize the status quo. Pochettino awoke a hunger for greatness that previously appeared dormant.

Tim Ream became one of the first to point out the intensity of training under Pochettino, surprised by the level of competition he created. Players now fight for a role in the starting XI, a lineup that previously seemed promised to players based on reputation. I think that mindset and culture will continue if Pochettino chooses to depart.

Carlisle: Pochettino's legacy would be one of unrealized potential. He made some valuable changes for sure. At the World Cup, the team played a style and got some early results that caught the eye, but ultimately the USMNT didn't do any better than his predecessors did save Bruce Arena in 2002.

What made Pochettino's reappointment last August exciting was the opportunity to build on the foundation laid since October 2024. This was especially true given the crop of young players coming through the ranks. There was a foundation. Additional scaffolding was being constructed. Now it looks like Pochettino might walk away with the job half finished.

Hernandez: Pochettino brought in a new generation of players -- and wouldn't stick around to further help their development. At the recent World Cup, there were bright moments throughout the tournament -- and then the U.S. finished in a very familiar position in the round of 16. Pochettino has done well to build a culture that has deepened the player pool, but it could all go out the window after just a couple of years.

That legacy? It's one in which a high-profile coach needed more time to take the USMNT to the next level and appeared to be on the cusp of helping it do so, but then walked away before fully realizing his project.

Has the Pochettino experiment lived up to your expectations?

Carlisle: At times, it has. The first two games at the World Cup created a wave of excitement around just how far the team could go. The team was playing so well, the style captivating. Even the round-of-32 game against Bosnia-Herzegovina was encouraging in a different way, grinding out a result against a tough opponent, albeit one the U.S. should beat.

But there were other times that it hasn't. The Belgium game at the World Cup brought everything crashing back to earth. The friendlies against Belgium and Portugal the previous March made for rough viewing as well. Should Pochettino leave, he will have been in charge for only 26 months. More time might have seen those expectations met.

Hernandez: It was fine? If we had to give it a grade, I'd give it a C-plus.

Becherano: Yes and no. Pochettino saw a difficult start to his time with the USMNT, losing both the Nations League and the Gold Cup after entering the Concacaf tournaments as reigning champion. It took him a bit to implement his style tactically and convince players to buy into the shift in mindset, but the first two games at the 2026 World Cup offered a glimmer of hope.

The U.S. captivated audiences and gave fans a reason to truly believe in the team. The two performances felt like Pochettino's U.S., which we had all been waiting for, had finally arrived.