Mauricio Pochettino in tears following ‘difficult’ decision to leave US for Manchester United

Mauricio Pochettino says the decision to leave his role as US national team manager to become head coach of Manchester United was “one of the most difficult” of his career.

The Argentine was announced as Michael Carrick’s successor at Old Trafford on Friday, with sources telling BBC Sport he had signed a two-and-a-half year deal.

United paid a release clause of around £7.4 million to extricate Pochettino from his United contract, with a further payment being made for his backroom staff.

Pochettino only signed a new four-year contract with the United States this summer, but will leave for Manchester after leading the national team in matches against Haiti on November 14 and 18.

The 54-year-old broke down in tears during his first press conference after his move to United was confirmed and thanked the US Soccer Federation for their support.

“It’s hard to talk now,” he said. “I’m a very emotional guy. It’s a very sad decision.

“But we are professionals and we try to make our dreams come true.”

When asked why he signed a new deal with the national team and then accepted United’s offer, Pochettino replied that the opportunity to succeed at Old Trafford was too good to turn down.

“I never said I wanted to go back, but they know there are not many opportunities in a career like Manchester United,” he said. “When it happens, it’s hard to refuse.”

Carrick was sacked on Thursday after United’s worst start to a domestic campaign in 40 years, which left them languishing in 18th place in the Premier League.

Pochettino will inherit a team that has won just once in 10 league matches this season and sits just one point above bottom-placed Sunderland.

His first match in charge will be an away match against Liverpool on November 22.