USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino aiming to return to and win the Premier League – The Athletic
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino says he is aiming to return to and win the Premier League.
Pochettino, 53, has been in charge of the U.S. since November 2024 and previously coached Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in the English top flight.
The Argentine’s contract takes him through to next summer’s World Cup on home soil, where his side will face Paraguay, Australia and a European playoff winner following Friday’s draw in Washington, D.C.
Having enjoyed success with Southampton, Pochettino was appointed as Tottenham boss in May 2014, where he remained for just over five years. In that period, Spurs twice finished third in the league (2015-16, 2017-18), as well as finishing second in 2016-17, their best-ever Premier League campaign. They also reached the Champions League final in 2018-19, losing to Liverpool.
After an 18-month spell as Paris Saint-Germain head coach, Pochettino returned to England with Chelsea but lasted only the 2023-24 season before mutually departing.
Pochettino was linked with a return to Tottenham after Ange Postecoglou’s departure in the summer, but said that was “not realistic”. Thomas Frank later took the job.
Asked by the BBC about still keeping an eye on the Premier League, Pochettino replied: “Yeah, I watch a lot. The Premier League is the best in the world. Of course I miss it.
“I am so happy in the USA, but I am always thinking about returning one day. It is the most competitive league, and of course I would love to come back again.”
Several of Pochettino’s USMNT stars play in the Premier League, including Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams, Fulham’s Antonee Robinson and Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards.
“Talking about the Premier League, and we are in London… to win the Premier League and the Champions League,” Pochettino said when asked to choose only one thing to achieve in his career.
“We were so close in Tottenham. I want to achieve this. I am still young, I have the energy, experience and motivation to try in the future. Outside, to make my family feel proud — my sons, my wife, my dog, my horses, my mum and dad, my granddaughter.”
