Mauricio Pochettino named United States coach: ‘I couldn’t let that go’

Mauricio Pochettino has been named the new head coach of the United States national team, ruling him out of the running to become Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor in England.

Former Chelsea manager Pochettino will lead the United States to the 2026 World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico.

“The decision to join US Soccer was not just about soccer for me; it is about the journey this team and this country are on,” Pochettino said in a statement.

“The energy, the passion and the hunger to accomplish something truly historic here — those are the things that inspired me.

“The opportunity to lead the United States Men’s National Team, in front of fans as passionate as the players, is something I couldn’t pass up.

“I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together we will build something special that the whole nation can be proud of.”

It is a huge coup for the United States and a new challenge for Pochettino, who has never coached an international team before.

Klopp has ruled himself out

Pochettino had been in negotiations with American technical director Matt Crocker, who he worked with at Southampton, and emerged as the overwhelming choice for the role after Jurgen Klopp made it clear he was not interested in an immediate return to coaching.

News of Pochettino’s appointment has been welcomed in the United States and the fact that he speaks Spanish makes it a particularly popular decision among the country’s Latino population.

Pochettino was considered a leading candidate to permanently succeed Southgate as England manager, but the Football Association has appointed Lee Carsley as interim manager for the Nations League matches.

The United States will not have to pay Chelsea any compensation. The terms of Pochettino’s exit contract stipulated that only a club in the Premier League’s top six would have to pay £5m to sign him within six months of his departure from Stamford Bridge.

Pochettino is expected to be joined in his role in the United States by his former Chelsea staff of assistant Jesús Pérez, manager Miguel D’Agostino, goalkeeping coach Toni Jiménez and the Argentine’s son Sebastiano.

The United States will now have two former Chelsea coaches in charge of their national teams after Emma Hayes took charge of the women’s team.

“His track record speaks for itself and I am confident he is the right choice to harness the immense potential of our talented team,” Crocker added.

“We are delighted to have Mauricio on board as we embark on this exciting journey to succeed on the world stage.”

Why Pochettino’s transfer is a win-win

England fans may be wondering why Pochettino didn’t hold out to ensure he didn’t get the permanent job replacing Southgate. Maybe he knows which way the wind is blowing, or maybe the United States job is more appealing than many initially think.

Pochettino’s relationship with Crocker immediately puts him in a strong position, and the fact that as co-hosts the United States do not have to qualify for the 2026 World Cup means the Argentine has two years to prepare for the tournament with a team that has underperformed recently.

There will of course be added pressure not to fail at home, but interest in soccer should soar in the United States when the world’s best players arrive.

Pochettino should be able to quickly raise the bar and restore a feel-good factor with his infectious personality.

While the American coach’s base salary may not be astronomical by Premier League standards, it is believed that Pochettino could earn plenty of money from sponsorships and endorsement deals before and during the World Cup if he so wishes.

The fact that he is new to international football management adds a layer of intrigue to the appointment, but he should be able to win over the American press quite easily and his man-management skills will work quickly on his players.

And let’s be honest, this role is a part-time job that pays full-time, which is a win-win for everyone.