Pochettino Emerges as Top Candidate for USMNT Coaching Position
- Former Tottenham and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is the top candidate for the USMNT coach role.
- Reports indicate that Pochettino is being considered to fill the coaching vacancy for the U.S. men's national team.
- USMNT may potentially appoint Pochettino as their new head coach, bringing in his experience from top English clubs.
The United States men’s national soccer team (USMNT) is reportedly targeting Mauricio Pochettino, the former head coach of Tottenham and Chelsea, to fill its coaching vacancy. Multiple sources indicate that U.S. Soccer has engaged in discussions with Pochettino's camp, positioning him as the leading candidate among several contenders. Despite lacking experience in managing a national team, Pochettino boasts a successful club career, including a Champions League final appearance with Tottenham in 2019. Pochettino, 52, previously led Southampton to an eighth-place finish in the Premier League and achieved three top-three finishes with Tottenham from 2014 to 2019. His connection with U.S. Soccer's sporting director, Matt Crocker, who worked at Southampton during Pochettino's tenure, may strengthen his candidacy. Crocker emphasized the need for a competitive salary to attract a high-caliber coach, noting that the federation is prepared to invest significantly in this role. Currently, Mikey Varas, coach of the U.S. Under-20 team, is set to lead the senior squad in upcoming friendlies against Canada and New Zealand. This interim arrangement follows the dismissal of Gregg Berhalter after the USMNT's disappointing performance in the 2024 Copa América. If Pochettino is appointed, he would be the most prominent coach since Jurgen Klinsmann, who previously managed Germany and Bayern Munich. As the search for a new head coach continues, Pochettino's potential hiring represents a significant opportunity for the USMNT to elevate its competitive standing on the international stage.