When U.S. Soccer parted ways with former U.S. men’s national team head coach Gregg Berhalter, the federation knew that it was going to have to be ambitious with the coaching search. The USMNT — despite boasting the most talented roster in the program’s history — was eliminated in the group stage of the Copa America and lacked any optimism for the 2026 World Cup.
The USSF had to get the hire right, and technical director Matt Crocker pulled off just about the best hire he could have made.
After literal weeks of speculation and reports of an imminent announcement, the USSF finally introduced Mauricio Pochettino as USMNT head coach ahead of the team’s friendly against New Zealand.
Introducing… #USMNT Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino 🇺🇸
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) September 10, 2024
Pochettino — most recently the manager at Chelsea FC — gives the USMNT a coach who has led the biggest clubs and players in the world. He took Tottenham Hotspur to the Champions League final. He won Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain. He also previously worked with Crocker at Southampton where Pochettino led the club to its best-ever finish in the Premier League. He also coached Chelsea at the same time as now-USWNT head coach Emma Hayes who was leading the Chelsea women’s squad.
And while negotiations over a Chelsea buyout held up the announcement, the USSF was able to see the process through and get the deal done. USMNT fans were overwhelmingly fired up for the new head coach who will make his debut in October.
This was how Twitter/X reacted
LFG #USMNT https://t.co/zLSuRtWc3a
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) September 10, 2024
🚨🇺🇸 POCH TO USMNT OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL 🇺🇸🚨
REJOICE, AMERICA. MAURICIO POCHETTINO IS FINALLY, OFFICIALLY USMNT MANAGER 🦅
AMAZING WORK BY MATT CROCKER & @USSOCCER, HIRING THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED & RESPECTED CLUB COACH IN USMNT HISTORY. LET THE OPTIMISM FLOW—WE READY FOR 2026 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/osjTHDKJRD
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) September 10, 2024
https://t.co/L6jHdOYGy5 pic.twitter.com/6MlR65mb7v
— steve ceruti (@Ceruti) September 10, 2024
https://t.co/MtcjrTM5hn pic.twitter.com/Ybn1dOu0ws
— Blake Bullock (@BlakeKBullock) September 10, 2024
Mauricio Pochettino, welcome to the USMNT 🇺🇸
Good luck coach!! 👊🏽 https://t.co/fRWJiUKH82
— Tactical Manager (@ManagerTactical) September 10, 2024
https://t.co/fKZ2AUU1mW pic.twitter.com/Pe10bB20ue
— Tyler King (@King_TylerB) September 10, 2024
2000 years later 😭😭 https://t.co/6nckK5mTrV
— sophie (@sophwwfc) September 10, 2024
IVE NEVER BEEN MORE BACK https://t.co/9vZxrksnls
— Gabalhães (@NocturnalGunner) September 10, 2024
Finally it’s been announced LET’S GOOOOOOO WE’RE BACK BABY 🫡🇺🇸 https://t.co/tvy0mr3ZAe
— Nabhuto (@Nabhuto) September 10, 2024
I CAN ROOT FOR POCH AGAIN pic.twitter.com/lHdbX6q5jH https://t.co/ue455qyuA4
— Matterall (@MatterallM) September 10, 2024
