Getty Image / Henry Browne
United States Men’s Soccer National Team fans got their wish earlier this summer when much-maligned manager Gregg Berhalter was fired after a terrible showing in the prestigious Copa America tournament matching up the best teams from North and South America. The focus went to finding a great coach for the USMNT ahead of the most important tournament its history, a World Cup hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico set for 2026.
if Twitter rumors are to be believed,it appears that US Soccer has done just that, hiring former Tottenham, Paris St. German and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino to be their next head coach.
A tweet from former Univision sports journalist-turned-filmmaker Ivan Kasanzew claims the deal between the two sides is done, according to his sources.
Fuentes indican que Mauricio Pochettino habría llegado a un acuerdo para convertirse en el nuevo Seleccionador de Estados Unidos. pic.twitter.com/nXpac5oVfH
— Iván Kasanzew (@IvanKasanzew) August 15, 2024
The translation is, roughly, “Sources indicate that Mauricio Pochettino has reached an agreement to become the new United States national team coach.”
The rumors have picked up enough steam that former USMNT striker and ESPN pundit Taylor Twellman has addressed them.
Remember that Pochettino, the man-manager extraordinaire, worked alongside sporting director Matt Crocker at Southampton before going on to perform wonders at Tottenham.
There is history between the two and an understanding of what is needed and necessary immediately. #USSF
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) August 15, 2024
Pochettino would be, by far, the most qualified and experienced manager that the USMNT has ever hired. He has won the French league with PSG, and let Tottenham Hotspur to the Champions League Final, the furthest the club has ever gone in the competition.
More than his accomplishments, his style of soccer is one that is going to thrill US Soccer fans. Pochettino loves to press teams high up the pitch and force turnovers to then attack quickly. He hates sitting back and letting other teams keep the ball, something that has consistently plagued the United States against better opponents for decades.
He was let go by Chelsea due to differences with management, but he helped the club win their last five matches last year to help them return to European competition in the Europa League.
While it’s not official, it seems like he’s likely to be the guy. He will have arguably the best generation of American players ever to work with and we all should hope he can help them reach their potential. We saw what difference a proper coach can make with the USWNT. After they crashed out of the World Cup last year in the Round of 16, they went 6-0-0 in the Olympics to capture the gold medal.