September 10, 2024, 9:54 PM
September 10, 2024, 9:54 PM
Argentine Mauricio Pochettino was appointed as the new national team coach United States soccer team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which the country will host with Canada and Mexico, the US Soccer Federation announced on Tuesday.
The former coach of Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Espanyol replaces American Gregg Berhalterwho was fired in July after a disappointing Copa América.
Pochettino, 52, is the most famous coach to take charge of the Stars and Stripes team and the first foreigner since German Juergen Klinsmann, who was dismissed in 2016.
The Argentine was without a team since his abrupt departure from Chelsea in May after just one season in charge.
US Soccer has not provided any details. on the length of the contract, but Pochettino will lead the national team at the 2026 World Cup.
“Mauricio is a serial winner “with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive, competitive teams,” said Matt Crocker, US Soccer’s sporting director, who led the search for the new head coach.
“His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident he is the right choice to harness the immense potential of our talented squad. We are delighted to have Mauricio on board this exciting journey to success on the world stage,” he added.
Pochettino has a history of promoting youngsters talents at Southampton, Tottenham and Espanyol, where he began his coaching career.
At Tottenham he played a key role in shaping the career of England captain Harry Kane and turning Spurs into regular top-four finishers in the Premier League, as well as guiding them to the Champions League final in 2019.
The Argentine, who coached stars such as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé in Paris, He said he was relishing the opportunity to help the U.S. team advance.
“The decision to join US Soccer was not just about soccer for me. This is about the journey this team and this country are on.“, declared Pochettino.
“The energy, passion and desire to achieve something “Truly historic here are the things that inspired me. The opportunity to coach the U.S. men’s national team, in front of fans as passionate as the players, is something I couldn’t pass up,” he said.
“I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together we will build something special that the entire nation can be proud of,” he said.
Pochettino inherits a relatively young team who reached the round of 16 at the last World Cup in Qatar 2022, falling to the Netherlands in the round of 16.
But hopes that a young squad could progress towards 2026 have faded were marred by a poor campaign in the Copa America in July, when the national team failed to advance past the group stage, finishing with just one win in three games after losing to Panama and Uruguay.
Berhalter, who had been harshly criticized by fans and experts, was dismissed and The federation took its time in finding his replacement.
US Soccer CEO JT Batson He was convinced that Pochettino was the right coachor to get the best out of a team that is led by AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic.
