Mauricio Pochettino

Lore & Background

Pochettino played as a centre-back and began his career in 1989 with Primera División club Newell's Old Boys, winning a league title and finishing as runner-up in the 1992 Copa Libertadores. In 1994, he transferred to newly promoted La Liga club Espanyol, helping establish their top-flight status and winning the 2000 Copa del Rey, their first trophy in 60 years. In 2001, he joined Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain, and then had a stint with Bordeaux before returning to Espanyol in 2004, winning another Copa del Rey in 2006. Pochettino was capped 20 times for the Argentina national team and played at the 1999 Copa América and 2002 FIFA World Cup. After retiring as a player, he began his managerial career at Espanyol in 2009. In 2013, he was appointed at Premier League club Southampton, leading them to an eighth-place finish that season – equalling their highest ever Premier League finish. He joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2014 and served as their third longest manager in club history, and finished as Premier League runners-up in the 2016–17 season, as well as leading the club to their first Champions League final in 2019. He was widely credited for developing young Tottenham stars Dele Alli, Son Heung-min, and Harry Kane. In 2021, Pochettino joined Paris Saint-Germain, where he won the Ligue 1 title and Coupe de France. He took over as Chelsea manager for the 2023–24 season, mutually agreeing to part ways with the club after just one season. In 2024, he was appointed as national team head coach for the first time with the United States. At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he broke the nation's all-time managerial records of the most wins (3) and most goals scored (11) at a World Cup. Afterwards, his U.S. contract was extended through 2030.

In Their Own Story

The rain lashed against the roof of Wanda Metropolitano as Mauricio Pochettino stood in the technical area, his eyes fixed on the penalty spot. The atmosphere was electric, a mix of hope and dread for a club that had never been here before. He watched his players, boys he had molded over five years, breathe heavily under the weight of history. In that moment, the decades of near-misses seemed to hang in the air, waiting for a single kick to change everything.

Reader's Guide

Pochettino's managerial tenure at Tottenham Hotspur included a Premier League runners-up finish in 2016–17 and leading the club to their first Champions League final in 2019. The source does not mention any FA Cup finals under Pochettino at Tottenham.

Did You Know?

• Pochettino was nicknamed 'the Sheriff' due to his tough playing style and because his paternal grandfather once served as sheriff of Murphy, Santa Fe.
• He played with Diego Maradona at Newell's Old Boys, sharing a room before games.
• Pochettino studied agriculture at a school 20 miles from his hometown of Murphy.