Pochettino dismisses Tottenham return rumors as unrealistic

In the United States, head coach Mauricio Pochettino has recently addressed speculation around his potential return to Tottenham Hotspur, a club he previously managed from 2014 until 2019. The rumors intensified following the sacking of Ange Postecoglou on June 6, 2025, just 16 days after the Australian led Tottenham to their first major trophy in 17 years by winning the Europa League. Despite his history with Spurs, where he led the team to the Champions League final, Pochettino emphasized that he has signed a two-year contract to coach the USA national team, which will compete in the 2026 World Cup co-hosted with Canada and Mexico, making any return to Spurs unfeasible at this moment. During a post-match press conference, following the USA's 2-1 defeat to Turkey, Pochettino commented on his links to the managerial position at Tottenham. He pointed out that his name frequently appears in connections to Spurs whenever they are looking for a new head coach. He remarked, "After I left in 2019, every time that I was free, and the place of the position of the manager or head coach in Tottenham Hotspur was vacant, my name is appearing on the list." Pochettino believes that there are numerous coaching candidates available and encouraged people not to be overly concerned about the speculation surrounding his name. Furthermore, while Pochettino has maintained a fondness for Tottenham, he indicated that his current focus is on preparing the USA team for the upcoming World Cup. He acknowledged the challenges he faces after recently losing three consecutive matches, including losses to Panama and Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League. Pochettino expressed a desire to see a positive attitude from his players as they approach the World Cup, insisting that commitment and teamwork are essential for improvement moving forward. He stated, "This attitude I want to continue for the future until we arrive at the World Cup... that is the only way we can improve." Although aspiring to cultivate a strong team culture, he reiterated that a return to Spurs is not on the horizon. In summary, the former Spurs manager and current USA team coach has made it clear that despite occasional past speculation, a move back to Tottenham is not on the table, especially given the commitments he has with the USA national team. It appears that the managerial landscape at Tottenham Hotspur remains ever fluctuating, as they search for their fifth full-time manager in six years, with Pochettino noting that there are many qualified candidates in the running.