Who could replace Mauricio Pochettino? Potential USMNT coaching candidates if he leaves for Manchester United

The Mauricio Pochettino era with the U.S. men's national team is seemingly over after 26 months and 35 matches in charge. The 54-year-old Argentine is reportedly close to leaving for Manchester United three months after signing an extension — with an exit clause — through the 2030 World Cup. Pochettino guided the USMNT to a Gold Cup final, Nations League semifinal and the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. Now as the USMNT begins Nations League play and prepares for the next World Cup cycle, the U.S. Soccer Federation is about to be in the market for a new men's manager. The organization swung big ponying up to bring in Pochettino after Gregg Berhalter's tenure. Will they turn to a familiar face or once again go big in their next hire? Here's a look at some of the names that will likely be in the mix to replace Pochettino. B.J. Callaghan Here's one familiar face. Callaghan has worked with the USMNT in the past. He was an assistant coach under Berhalter and was also interim manager between Berhalter's two stints in charge. Callaghan managed seven matches and led the USMNT to the 2022-23 Nations League title. Callaghan, 45, signed a contract extension in February through the 2028-29 season and is currently preparing top-seeded Nashville SC for the MLS playoffs. He guided the club to the Supporters’ Shield this season, a year after winning the U.S. Open Cup. Mikey Varas Varas, like Callaghan, took charge of the USMNT between Berhalter's two tenures. He managed two friendlies — a loss and a draw — as Pochettino was coming on board. The 43-year-old Varas was hired in 2021 as the U.S. U-20 head coach following his work in the academies of Sacramento Republic and FC Dallas. The team won the CONCACAF U-20 Championship for a third straight time under Varas in 2022 and later reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 U-20 World Cup. He was hired by San Diego FC in 2025 and helped the expansion side to the best record in the Western Conference, an appearance in the conference final and a berth into the CONCACAF Champions Cup. A focus on possession and a strong press has delivered Varas success as multiple levels. Pellegrino Matarazzo head coach of Real Sociedad celebrates after winning the Copa del Rey final between Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid. NurPhoto via Getty Images Pellegrino Matarazzo The 48-year-old Matarazzo has been a full-time manager in Germany with three different clubs and brought them each success. At Stuttgart, the side earned promotion to the Bundesliga in 2020. He would later help TSG Hoffenheim qualify for the Europa League during the 2023-24 season. Last year, he helped Real Sociedad to the Copa del Rey title. With a similar pressing and counterattacking style, a move from Pochettino to the New Jersey-born Matarazzo could be a seamless transition in leadership and tactics. A candidate for the job before Pochettino was hired, Matarazzo told ESPN in April that he was "happy" with his current situation. Could that change if the national team job was a realistic possibility? Thierry Henry After a legendary domestic and international career, Henry has dipped his toes into the coaching ranks. Following his work in Arsenal's youth system, Henry joined Roberto Martínez's Belgium staff as an assistant as the Red Devils took third place at the 2018 World Cup. Three months later, he would take the manager's job at his old club Monaco. That stop was short-lived, however, as he was fired after just 20 matches. Henry would land in MLS with Montreal Impact in 2019 and help the club end a four-year playoff drought. In 2021, he rejoined Belgium's coaching staff ahead of Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup. Prior to the 2024 Olympics, he was named as manager of France's U-21 team, which would end up winning a silver medal after a loss to Spain in the gold-medal game. Since leaving management in 2024, Henry has returned to doing media working with CBS Sports during its Champions League coverage and for Fox Sports as an analyst during the 2026 World Cup. Henry has previously expressed interest in the USMNT job. In 2023, he turned down the manager's job of France's women's national team and was reportedly intent on being a candidate post-Berhalter. "Would you put your name in the hat?" @Kate_Abdo asks Thierry Henry whether he wants the #USMNT job. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/W7ygBpSfCi — CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 15, 2023 Steve Cherundolo At the moment, Cherundolo is the man in charge of the U.S. men's U-23 team for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles . Following a long playing career in Germany and with the USMNT, Cherundolo got into coaching and eventually joined the national team staff as an assistant coach in 2018. He was later hired by LAFC in 2022 and helped the club win the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup in his first season. He followed that up with a U.S. Open Cup title in 2024. It seemed set up that if Cherundolo helped the U.S. to a good result at the Olympics, the national team job could be next on his radar. Would the USSF consider altering its timeline with Pochettino moving on? Pep Guardiola If the USSF was willing to open its wallet to pay $6 million a year for Pochettino, surely it would take the same approach if Guardiola expressed interest. The former Manchester City boss has been enjoying his time away from management and is known for his love of spending time in the States. If the stress of day-to-day management at a massive club took its toll, would a national team job be more attractive to Guardiola? Guardiola, who won 12 league titles and three Champions Leagues among his numerous accolades with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, has spoken before about the potential of soccer in the U.S. and how development of young players and coaches should be a focus. If he's in charge of the U.S. national team, how much influence would he want to have in reshaping the games at all levels? Other names of note Julian Nagelsmann : The 39-year-old has national team experience having guided Germany at the 2024 Euros, 2025 Nations League and 2026 World Cup. Roberto Martínez : Martínez's last two coaching jobs were on the international stage, leading Belgium for 80 matches over six years and most recently Portugal for 45 matches over three years. He's won a Nations League and helped Belgium finish third place at a World Cup. Jesse Marsch : Once a consideration in 2022, let's just say the former USMNT midfielder and assistant coach is fine where he is managing Canada. "Let me make it really clear: I never will coach the U.S. national team. Ever," Marsch said in July .