MIAMI: The U.S. Soccer Federation announced Tuesday that Argentina's Mauricio Pochettino has been named the new head coach of the U.S. national team.
The former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Espanyol manager replaces American Greg Berhalter, who was sacked after a disappointing performance at the Copa America in July.
Pochettino is the most high-profile manager to have taken charge of the U.S. national team, and the first foreign manager to do so since Germany's Jurgen Klinsmann was fired in 2016.
Pochettino, 52, is unemployed after abruptly leaving Chelsea in May after just one season in charge.
The U.S. Soccer Federation did not provide details on the length of the contract, but Pochettino will lead the team to the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host with Mexico and Canada.
“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 coach.
“His track record speaks for itself and I am confident he is the right choice to unlock the enormous potential of our talented squad,” he added.
Pochettino has a history of developing young talent at Southampton, Tottenham and Spanish club Espanyol in the early stages of his managerial career.
At Tottenham, Pochettino played a key role in shaping England captain Harry Kane's career, guiding Spurs to consistent top-four finishes and even reaching the Champions League final in 2019.
The Argentine coach, who has coached stars including Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in Paris, said he is excited about the opportunity to help improve the U.S. national team.
“For me, the decision to join the U.S. national team wasn't just about soccer. It was about the journey that this team and this country are on,” Pochettino said.
“The energy, passion and thirst to accomplish something truly historic here is what inspired me. The opportunity to lead the U.S. Men's National Team in front of fans who are as passionate as the players themselves was something I couldn't pass up.
He added: “I see a team of players brimming with talent and potential, and together we can create something special that the whole nation can be proud of.”
Pochettino inherited a relatively young team that reached the last 16 of the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, but lost to the Netherlands in the knockout stages.
But the young squad's hopes of qualifying for the 2026 tournament were dashed by a poor performance at the Copa América in July, when the team was eliminated in the group stage after losing to Panama and Uruguay and winning just one of their three games.
Berhalter, who received a huge amount of criticism from fans and pundits, was sacked and the federation took their time finding his replacement.
US Soccer chief executive JT Batson said he was confident Pochettino was the right man to get the best out of a team led by AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic.
He said: “His deep knowledge of the game, his dedication to developing talent and his relentless drive for excellence are exactly what we need as we prepare for the 2026 World Cup.”
The financial package to sign Pochettino included negotiations with his former club Chelsea and donations from the business community.
“Pochettino’s appointment was supported in part by a philanthropic leadership contribution from Kenneth C. Griffin, Founder and CEO of Citadel and Founder of Griffin Catalyst. Additional support was provided by Scott Goodwin, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Diameter, and several commercial partners,” US Soccer said in a statement.
This is the second appointment for Crocker, who worked with Pochettino at Southampton.
Croker brought in former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes to lead the women's team that won gold at the Paris Olympics last month.
