Pochettino named as new coach of US team

MIAMI — Argentine Mauricio Pochettino has been named as the new head coach of the United States national team, the US Soccer federation announced on Tuesday.

The former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Espanyol coach replaces American Gregg Berhalter who was fired in July after a disappointing Copa America campaign.

Pochettino is the biggest name and the first foreigner to take charge of the USA since German Jurgen Klinsmann, who was sacked in 2016.

Pochettino, 52, has been unemployed since his abrupt departure from Chelsea in May after just a single season in charge.

No details of the contract length were provided by US Soccer, but Pochettino will lead the team at the 2026 World Cup, which the USA is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.

"Mauricio is a serial winner with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive and competitive teams," said Matt Crocker, US Soccer's sporting director who led the search for a new coach.

"His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad," he added.

Pochettino has a track record of promoting young talent at Southampton, Tottenham and Spanish side Espanyol earlier in his managerial career.

At Tottenham, Pochettino played a key role in shaping the career of England captain Harry Kane and turned Spurs into regular top-four finishers, while also guiding them to the Champions League final in 2019.

The Argentine, who coached stars such as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in Paris, said he was relishing the chance to develop the US team.

"The decision to join US Soccer wasn't just about football for me; it's about the journey that this team and this country are on," Pochettino said.

"The energy, the passion and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here — those are the things that inspired me. The opportunity to lead the US men's national team, in front of fans who are just as passionate as the players, is something I couldn't pass up.

"I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we're going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of," he added.

Pochettino inherits a relatively young team that reached the last-16 at the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, losing to the Netherlands in the knockout phase.

But, hopes that a young squad could progress towards 2026 were damaged by a poor Copa America campaign in July, when the team failed to advance out of the group stage. It finished with just one win from three games, suffering losses to Panama and Uruguay.

Berhalter, who had been heavily criticized by fans and pundits, was dismissed, and the federation took its time in the search for his replacement.

US Soccer chief executive JT Batson said he was convinced that Pochettino was the right coach to get the best out of a team which is led by AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic.

"His deep knowledge of the game, his commitment to developing talent and his relentless drive for excellence are exactly what we need as we prepare for the 2026 World Cup," he said.

AFP