MIAMI: Argentine Mauricio Pochettino has been named the new coach of the United States national team, the US Soccer Federation said on Tuesday.
The former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Espanyol coach replaces American Gregg Berhalter who was sacked in July after a disappointing Copa America campaign.
Pochettino is the biggest coach to manage the United States and the first foreigner since Germany's Juergen Klinsmann, who was fired in 2016.
Pochettino, 52, has been out of work since his abrupt exit from Chelsea in May after just one season in charge.
No details on the length of the contract were provided by US Soccer, but Pochettino will lead the team to the 2026 World Cup where the United States is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.
“Mauricio is a series winner with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive and competitive teams,” said Matt Crocker, US athletic director who led the search. new coach.
“His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to utilize the great potential of this talented team,” he said.
Pochettino has a track record of promoting young talent at Southampton, Tottenham and Spanish giants early in his career.
At Tottenham, Pochettino played a key role in shaping the career of England captain Harry Kane and he turned Spurs into a top four finish and led 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 relished the opportunity to advance the American team.
“The decision to join US Soccer was not just about soccer for me; about the journey of this team and this country,” said Pochettino.
“The energy, the passion and the hunger to accomplish something truly historic here — those are the things that inspired me. The opportunity to lead the United States national team, in front of fans who are just as passionate as the players, was something I couldn't turn down.
“I see a group of players full of talent and skill, and together we create something special that the whole country will be proud of,” he added.
Pochettino inherited a relatively young squad that reached the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, losing to the Netherlands in the knockout stages.
But hopes that a young team could progress to 2026 were dashed by a poor Copa America campaign in July, when the team failed to reach the final by one win in three games after losses to Panama and Uruguay.
Berhalter was fired, heavily criticized by fans and pundits, and the federation took time to find a replacement.
US Soccer chief executive JT Batson said he was convinced Pochettino was the coach who could get the best out of a team led by AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic.
“His deep knowledge of the game, commitment to talent development, and relentless pursuit of excellence are what we need as we prepare for the 2026 World Cup,” he said.
The financial package brought to Pochettino, included negotiations with his former club Chelsea and included help from donations from the business world.
“Pochettino's appointment is supported in large part by a philanthropic leadership gift from Kenneth C. Griffin, Founder and CEO of Citadel and Founder of Griffin Catalyst. Additional support was provided by Scott Goodwin, co-founder and CEO of Diameter, and several business partners,” US Soccer said in their statement.
The appointment is the second for Crocker, a Welshman who previously worked with Pochettino at Southampton.
Crocker has brought in another former Chelsea coach, Emma Hayes, to lead the women's team which she took to Olympic gold at the Paris Games last month.
