Former Cristiano Ronaldo manager Roberto Martinez emerges as USMNT contender

The United States Soccer Federation has added Roberto Martinez to its shortlist of candidates to replace Mauricio Pochettino, with Pep Guardiola still the preferred choice for the national team role.

Martinez, the former Belgium and Portugal manager, has significant international experience and is now being considered as the United States looks for a new head coach.

According to TalkSport, Guardiola is not the only name under discussion. The federation’s leadership would regard appointing the former Manchester City manager as a major coup, but is also aware that persuading him to end his break from football could prove difficult.

Pochettino appears set to leave the United States role for Manchester United after reaching a preliminary agreement to replace Michael Carrick. Carrick was dismissed following a run of disastrous results.

Guardiola has not managed a team since leaving Manchester City last summer, bringing an end to a decade at the club. During that period he won six Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League, establishing himself as one of the most successful managers in football history.

He also won three consecutive league titles with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

The United States would be Guardiola’s first international coaching appointment. Although he has won every major honour available at club level, taking charge of a national team would represent an entirely new challenge.

Martinez offers international experience

Martinez has an advantage Guardiola does not: direct experience of managing national teams at major tournaments.

He previously coached Belgium and Portugal, leaving both positions after their exits from the World Cup last summer. His record includes working with leading players, building teams capable of competing at major competitions and managing dressing rooms containing individuals from different footballing cultures.

His time with Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2026 World Cup was one of the most notable periods of his career. Martinez relied on Ronaldo not only as a goalscorer and on-field captain, but also as a figure of experience and leadership within the squad.

Portugal’s campaign ended with the exit that led to Martinez’s departure. However, his work with Ronaldo demonstrated his ability to manage a team built around a global star while handling the media and public pressure that comes with such a role.

That experience could prove valuable if he is appointed by the United States.

Guardiola, meanwhile, hinted before leaving Manchester City that he intended to take a break from football. Despite his departure, he has continued to support the club in recent months and sent an emotional message to supporters after City were found guilty of all the Premier League’s financial breach charges in September.

If Guardiola takes charge of the United States, he could be on the touchline in time for next summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, which would provide his first major test with the team.

The decision will determine whether the federation chooses a celebrated club manager without international experience or a coach who already knows the demands of international football. It could also help define the identity of the United States team before the 2030 World Cup.