The United States men’s national team is close to officially getting its man.
On Monday, Fox Sports reported former Tottenham and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino could be introduced as USMNT coach as early as Tuesday.
On Thursday, The Athletic and other outlets reported Pochettino had agreed to become the new U.S. soccer coach.
An official deal hasn’t been officially announced because of Pochettino’s severance arrangement from Chelsea, which he parted ways with following the 2023-24 English Premier League season. Pochettino had a guaranteed two-year deal with the club.
Should the deal be finalized, Fox reported that Pochettino also could be introduced to the national media in New York the week of Aug. 25. The U.S. plays Canada in a friendly on Sept. 7, when its new manager could be on the sidelines.
There are pros and cons to Pochettino’s hiring for the USMNT, but it’s undeniable that he’ll bring a resume unmatched by his predecessors. He guided Tottenham to a Champions League runner-up finish in 2018-19, and he has coached the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Lionel Messi and Neymar. No U.S. manager has coached a collection of greats such as that.
One of Pochettino’s stiffest challenges will be adapting to the American player development system which is nothing like the system in Europe, so it’s important he get up to speed quickly.
The excitement in America for Pochettino’s arrival is justified. He is a highly sought coach who has demonstrated success. But will it translate to the USNMT, a club yearning for its big breakthrough on the global stage?
