Mauricio Pochettino has been named head coach of the USA males’s nationwide crew.
The previous Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea boss will lead the USA into the 2026 dwelling World Cup, which can happen in the USA, Canada and Mexico, after leaving the Blues by mutual consent on the finish of final season.
This would be the first worldwide position for the 52-year-old Pochettino, who has additionally coached Espanyol, Southampton and Paris Saint-Germain throughout a distinguished 15-year teaching profession.
Pochettino replaces Gregg Berhalter, who was fired after the USA did not advance out of the group phases of this summer time’s Copa America.
“The choice to hitch U.S. Soccer is about greater than soccer for me; it is also concerning the journey of this crew and this nation,” Pochettino stated.
“The power, the eagerness, the need to attain one thing really historic right here — these are the issues that encourage me. Having the chance to steer the U.S. Males’s Nationwide Group in entrance of followers who’re as passionate because the gamers is so rewarding.” I Cannot miss it.
“I see a gaggle of gamers filled with expertise and potential, and collectively we are going to construct one thing particular that the whole nation could be pleased with.”
Evaluation: Why Pochettino took over as USA coach
Sky Sports activities reporter Paul Gilmour (@skysportspaulg)
Mauricio Pochettino shocked many when he determined to educate Group USA after stints at Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, however he’s extraordinarily excited concerning the alternative. So, what is the cause behind this resolution?
One of many important components is that the USA will co-host the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada. He has all the time expressed his want to expertise worldwide administration and spent the World Cup in Qatar as a commentator. This time, he might be on the coronary heart of world soccer’s most prestigious match as head coach of the host nation.
In the USA, he felt immediately beloved by the US soccer group, because of his shut collaboration with sporting director Matt Crocker. Crocker served as Southampton’s director of soccer operations in the course of the Argentinian’s time at Southampton and the 2 acquired alongside nicely.
US Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker labored with Pochettino at Southampton
Crocker can be the previous head of the FA’s growth crew, overseeing the whole sports activities division together with the ladies’s crew. He was described by U.S. Soccer as a “nice communicator” and “crew builder.” These components attraction to Pochettino, who likes to construct his crew with out fuss or drama. He likes to have some constructive ideas after latest unfavorable experiences.
It was a far cry from how issues ended for PSG and Chelsea, with Pochettino feeling pissed off and pissed off at occasions by the obstacles in his manner when he simply needed to maintain enhancing the crew. In Paris, he usually needed to accommodate gamers for whom he had no plans, which led to issues with the crew’s imbalance. PSG has since taken a distinct method.
Pochettino’s document at Chelsea
At Chelsea, he was usually pissed off by the variety of folks concerned within the decision-making course of, and he additionally needed to take care of members of the possession group who had completely different views on the course the membership was heading.
Worldwide soccer does not have to fret about recruitment, giving him the liberty to educate the crew and dedicate himself to creating an impression in the summertime of 2026.
Pochettino left Chelsea by mutual consent on the finish of final season
Pochettino’s departure has additionally boosted his popularity as Chelsea finish the season with a string of constructive outcomes, and whereas the preliminary plan might have been to attend for different positions to develop into out there, Actual Madrid and Manchester United have beforehand proven curiosity in his transfer. Names might seem on the crew. Finally, it is a given and might be seen as their coup.
U.S. Soccer’s athletic division has already received Olympic gold underneath Emma Hayes, who has reached out to Pochettino to share her early experiences working there. Hayes and Pochettinho have all the time praised one another and spent a yr overlapping at Chelsea, to not point out having fun with a extra relaxed method to soccer collectively at Soccer Assist.
U.S. Soccer believes they’ve a plan in place to make vital progress within the males’s and girls’s competitions. Pochettino will be capable of communicate English or Spanish because of the massive Hispanic inhabitants in the USA, and he’s reinvigorated to tackle a constructive new problem.
