Mauricio Pochettino will take the helm of the U.S. national team.
The U.S. Soccer Association (USMNT) officially announced on its official website on the 11th (Korea time) that “Pochettino has been appointed as the new coach of the U.S. men’s national team. Pochettino, a 52-year-old seasoned and respected coach, has played successfully for several top European clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and Chelsea.”
He added, “He will now take the helm of USMNT, lead the team based on his vast experience and tactical insight, and play at the 2026 FIFA North-China-Mexico World Cup at home.”
The U.S. is one of the host cities for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in North Korea, China and the U.S. (U.S., Canada, and Mexico). That is how important the team’s performance is. However, the post of coach was vacant. He fired coach Gregg Berholter.
Berholter started coaching the U.S. national team in 2018. He created an organized team centered on Christian Pulisic, and tied with Wales, England, and Iran at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he advanced to the round of 16 teams with one win and two draws. 토토사이트
They lost to the Netherlands in the round of 16, but they were recognized for their performance in advancing to the World Cup finals for the first time in eight years. However, the U.S. dismissed Berhalter. However, they failed to find a suitable alternative and reappointed the coach after about a year. However, they performed poorly at the 2024 Copa America. Despite the competition on their home turf, they failed to advance to the quarterfinals as the third-ranked team in the group, sparking public criticism that they would be dismissed. In the end, the U.S. fired Berhalter in July.
A number of new faces have been singled out as possible candidates. Among them is Jurgen Klopp, who left Liverpool after the last season. However, Klopp declined the offer. David Onstein, a reporter for The Athletic, said on Wednesday that Klopp rejected the offer from the U.S. national team. He politely declined the offer. Klopp wants a break.
Pochettino has also become a big hit. Pochettino, who spent his time as manager of Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, took the helm of PSG in the winter of 2021. However, he left the team after two seasons and spent the past 2022-23 season resting. During the break, he connected with various teams.
Then, he took the helm of Chelsea last summer. He received astronomical support. Chelsea owner Todd Boehly assisted Pochettino through generous support and recruitment of players. Chelsea recruited key players including Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku, Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Axel DiSassi, Nicholas Jackson, and Robert Sanchez just through the transfer window last summer.
However, when I opened the lid, the team was rarely in harmony. Due to the injuries to various squads that occurred at the beginning of the season, and Pochettino’s use of player selection and tactics, he failed to produce results. For instance, he received great criticism when he used Enzo Fernandez at the second and Conor Gallagher at the third. Fortunately, the team gradually stabilized, and with Palmer’s performance, the team finished the season in sixth place. However, Chelsea chose to break up with Pochettino.
Since then, the U.S. has shown its interest in Pochettino, who is living a wild life. Pochettino has no experience as a coach of the national team during his managerial career. This is the first time. As Pochettino takes the helm of the U.S. national team, he could face Son Heung-min, his former student, as an enemy at the World Cup.
Pochettino said, “For me, the decision to join the U.S. team was not just due to soccer. It was because of the journey that this team and country are going through. The energy, passion, and thirst to achieve something truly historic here inspired me.”
In addition, he added, “The opportunity to lead the U.S. national team in front of fans who are as passionate as the players was an unmissable one. Seeing and being together with players full of talent and potential will create something special that the whole country can be proud of.”