Mauricio Pochettino's contract with the United States men's national team contains a release clause in the neighborhood of $10 million (£7.5 million), multiple sources familiar with the deal told the Guardian this week. The figure would rise if Manchester United chose to retain members of his staff.
He has also spoken of being happy in America while thinking of coming back one day. Beyond that stated interest, he is widely known as a coach who likes the day-to-day work of management and is widely regarded as a strong man-manager who thrives in the daily rhythm of a club.
Most federations keep contingency plans for the departure of a head coach. U.S. Soccer is no exception, especially given the repeated interest in Pochettino over the years.
It is rare to see Pochettino in a professional capacity without Pérez at his side. He has similarly close bonds with other assistants, including Miki D'Agostino and goalkeeper coach Toni Jiménez.
U.S. Soccer brought Pochettino in in 2024 and later kept him through 2030. Since arriving in the United States he has been linked with a host of high-profile club openings. He is scheduled to address reporters on Friday afternoon. When the two sides extended the arrangement through 2030, they expressed a mutual belief and commitment not only to improving the men's team but also to overhauling the federation's approach to youth development.
The cost would climb further if a club wanted his backroom staff as well as the coach. That group includes his longtime assistant and confidant Jesús Pérez, who has worked with him for 16 years. In some respects, there is no better time for him to leave. An incoming coach would have most of a four-year cycle to work, and the federation would earn millions only months after Pochettino could have departed for free.
He guided the U.S. men to a last-16 finish at the 2026 World Cup, a result that was, by most accounts, a disappointment.