MIAMI: Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino has been named the new head coach of the United States national team, the US Soccer Federation announced Tuesday.
The former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Espanyol boss replaces American coach Greg Berhalter, who was sacked in July after a disappointing Copa America campaign.
Pochettino is the highest-profile coach to take charge of the United States national team and the first foreign coach since German coach Jürgen Klinsmann, who was sacked in 2016.
Pochettino, 52, has been out of work since abruptly leaving Chelsea in May after just one season in charge.
The US Soccer Association has not provided details on the length of the contract, but Pochettino will lead the team to the 2026 World Cup, which the United States will co-host with Mexico and Canada.
“Mauricio is a multiple-time winner with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive, competitive teams,” said Matt Kroeger, U.S. Soccer’s sporting director, who led the search for a new coach.
“His performance speaks for itself and I am confident he is the right choice to tap into the huge potential within our already talented team,” he added.
Pochettino has a track record of promoting talented young players at Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Espanyol in Spain earlier in his managerial career.
At Tottenham, Pochettino played a key role in shaping the career of England captain Harry Kane and helped Spurs consistently finish in the top four, as well as leading them to the 2019 UEFA Champions League final.
The Argentine coach, who has coached superstars Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in Paris, said he is delighted with the opportunity to develop the US national team.
“The decision to join the US Soccer Team is not just about football for me, it’s about the journey of the team and the country,” Pochettino said.
“The energy, passion and hunger to achieve something truly historic here inspires me. The opportunity to lead the U.S. Men’s National Team in front of fans as passionate as the players is one I couldn’t pass up.”
“I see a group of players who are full of talent and potential, and together we will create something special that the whole country can be proud of,” he added.
Pochettino takes over a relatively young side that reached the last 16 at the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022 before losing to the Netherlands in the knockout stages.
But the youngsters' hopes of qualifying for 2026 were dashed by a dismal performance at Copa America in July, when the team failed to advance past the group stage, ending up with just one win from three games after losses to Panama and Uruguay.
Berhalter, who was heavily criticized by fans and pundits, was fired and the federation took its time finding his replacement.
US Soccer CEO JT Batson says he believes Pochettino is the right coach to get the best out of a team led by AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic.
“His deep knowledge of the game, his commitment to developing his skills and his relentless drive for excellence are exactly what we need as we prepare for the 2026 World Cup,” he said.
The financial package to bring Pochettino into the negotiations with his former club Chelsea also includes help from donations from the corporate world.
“Pochettino’s appointment is supported by a leadership gift from Kenneth C. Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel and founder of Griffin Catalyst. Additional support has also been provided by Scott Goodwin, co-founder and managing partner of Diameter, and a number of commercial partners,” U.S. Soccer said in a statement.
The appointment is the second by Crocker, a Welshman who previously worked with Pochettino at Southampton.
Crocker has brought in another former Chelsea coach, Emma Hayes, to coach the women's team, with whom she won Olympic gold at the Paris Olympics last month.
