Pep Guardiola's stance on replacing Mauricio Pochettino as US boss after next job hint

· Mirror

Mauricio Pochettino will leave his role with the United States men's national team next week to join Manchester United - and they want Pep Guardiola to replace him

Pep Guardiola is expected to 'resist' any approach from US Soccer in their search for a successor to Mauricio Pochettino.

Pochettino was confirmed as the new manager of Manchester United this week despite signing a contract extension with the United States men's national team until 2030 recently. The Argentine will take up his new post following the second game of the US' double-header against Haiti, who they thrashed 6-0 on Saturday.

With Pochettino's departure imminent, talk has swiftly turned to potential successors with Guardiola emerging as an ambitious target for US Soccer.

However, The Telegraph claim that Guardiola will resist any attempts to lure him back into management after leaving Manchester City earlier this year.

That's because Guardiola remains determined to enjoy a year-long sabbatical following his trophy-laden decade at The Etihad. He has been unattached since walking away from City at the end of the 2025-26 campaign, meaning any potential return to management is not expected until some time in 2027.

It is no secret that Guardiola wishes to experience international management with the 55-year-old confirming back in 2024 that he wanted to lead a team at a major international tournament in the future.

Guardiola has already been approached for such roles since leaving Manchester City with Italy launching a failed bid for his services earlier this year.

He was also sounded out by the Football Association for the England job while at City before Thomas Tuchel was appointed back in 2024.

Guardiola lived in New York during a previous sabbatical following his time in charge at Barcelona and has reportedly had contact with US Soccer in the past.

Italy's bold bid to lure Guardiola back to the dugout earlier this year failed because of his determination to enjoy time out of the game, underlining the difficulties the US may also face if they do approach the Spaniard.

Italian football federation president Giovanni Malago confirmed as much to La Repubblica, saying: > “Pep was honest. He took a sabbatical, partly for family reasons, but if he’d done anything, he would have done it with us.”

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