Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly agreed to become the next coach of the U.S. men’s national team. It’s a potential move that has already generated buzz among U.S. fans and adds to a storied managerial career that includes stops at Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. The consensus perspective is that this is a major coup for U.S. Soccer.
But who is he?
For those not familiar with the 52-year-old Pochettino, here are five unique facts about the Argentine manager.
History at Newell’s
Pochettino was born in 1972 and 14 years later, In 1986, Pochettino signed for Newell’s Old Boys as an academy player. He rose to prominence as a gritty center-back under now-famous manager Marcelo Bielsa, earning his first senior contract in 1989. Bielsa’s influence drove his success as a defender and would also impact his coaching methods.
At the club, he won the Primera Division in 1991 and the Clausura in 1992. He would remain at his boyhood club until 1994, when he earned a move to Barcelona’s crosstown rivals Espanyol in Spain.
One year after his departure, a young Lionel Messi, six years old at the time, signed in their academy in 1995. He would later coach both Messi and Kylian Mbappe at PSG.
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AFPEspanyol legend
Pochettino began his European journey with the Spanish side, making 216 appearances across all competitions from 1994 to 2001. He won two Copa del Rey titles, in 2000 and 2006, before making another big move to join Paris Saint-Germain.
In an almost hard-to-believe career symmetry, Pochettino would go on to coach both of these clubs. His first senior managerial job was with Espanyol in 2009, where he stayed for just more than three years, followed by a stint at PSG from 2021 to 2022.
Overall, Pochettino’s career coaching record stacks up like this:
- 2009-13, Espanyol: 32.9% winning percentage, best league finish eighth place
- 2013-14, Southampton: 38.3% winning percentage, best league finish eighth place
- 2014-19, Tottenham: 54.2% winning percentage, best league finish second place
- 2021-22, Paris Saint-Germain: 65.4% winning percentage, best league finish first place
- 2023-24, Chelsea: 48.7% winning percentage, best league finish sixth place
Getty Images2002 disaster
At the 2002 World Cup, Pochettino became public enemy No. 1 for La Albiceleste.
After earning a clean sheet against Nigeria in a 1-0 victory in their opening game, Pochettino was the villain on Matchday 2 against England.
He committed a needless foul on the cusp of halftime, leading to a David Beckham penalty kick goal, in a 1-0 loss to England.
The loss put them in must-win territory against Sweden in their final group stage game, but they only managed a 1-1 draw – with Sweden and England both advancing ahead of them into the knockout stages.
U.S. player connections
While managing Tottenham Hotspur, Pochettino worked with U.S. internationals Deandre Yedlin and Cameron Carter-Vickers.
At Chelsea last season, he managed youngster Gabriel Slonina, whom the Argentine believes can become “one of the best in the world.”
Other Americans he has had time with are goalkeepers Cody Cropper, Brandon Austin and former U.S. youth international Gboly Ariyibi
Family man & dog lover
Pochettino is married to Karina Grippaldi, and they have two sons, Sebastiano and Maurizio.
While at Tottenham, Sebastiano worked as a sports scientist with the club, while Maurizio featured at the club’s academy.
Perhaps the most endearing fact: Pochettino is the proud owner of a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Sansa. Pochettino is quite fond of his four-legged companion, who even has her own Instagram page (@Sansa__Gram) though it’s set to private.
The Argentine manager frequently shares photos of Sansa on his own public and personal accounts. In 2023, Pochettino shared in a Chelsea press conference that fans would prepare treats for Sansa for enjoyment on daily walks.
View this post on InstagramSource goal.com
