Poch to the rescue! The USMNT has finally decided that enough is enough (bye, Greg) and hired Argentine boss Mauricio Pochettino as its new boss ahead of the World Cup 2026.
Some consider the former Spurs, PSG, and Chelsea manager quite a coup for the men’s team.
Ironically, we have spendthrift American businessman Todd Boehly to thank. He bought Chelsea only to let his last two hires go. Pochettino is the latest, finishing only one season at Stamford Bridge after leading the Blues to a dull sixth-place Premier League finish.
Boehly also let former Chelsea women’s boss Emma Hayes leave her head coaching role for the USWNT last May. Hayes led the USWNT to their heroic gold medal at the Paris games.
The USMNT hopes her first snag of silverware will be a good omen for ex-Chelsea man Pochettino.
Can Pochettino regalvanize the USMNT?
In 2019, then-Tottenham boss Pochettino revealed his future international intentions. When asked if he might coach the Stars and Stripes one day, he responded: “Yeah, why not?… Of course I see myself there someday.”
Keep in mind that Pochettino said this at the PEAK of his coaching power. The Argentine led Tottenham to their first-ever Champions League final. Who says the USMNT doesn’t have pull?
While the USMNT is Pochettino’s first international role, his club resume speaks for itself. He brought Southhampton to an eight-place finish during the 2013-14 season, the club’s highest EPL points tally ever. He then took Spurs to a second-place 2015/16 Premier League finish, a club-high point, followed by a second-place Champions League result a year later.
Pochettino’s departure from North London led him to greater pastures at PSG, where he won three trophies: the French Super Cup, the French Cup, and the Ligue 1. Champions League failure led to his exit.
Despite his “failure” at Chelsea, Pochettino is a top-class manager that any European club would like to have on its sidelines. He excels in developing young players, building team cohesion, and establishing high-intensity football. In that regard, convincing someone of his profile to come to the States is a win. Hopefully, the higher-ups at USMNT can avoid all the inside politics this time and get down to business.
