U.S. Soccer formally names Mauricio Pochettino as USMNT coach

CINCINNATI — Mauricio Pochettino is formally the top coach of the United States males’s nationwide soccer workforce.

Greater than three weeks after FOX Sports confirmed multiple European media reports that the extremely regarded former Chelsea, Paris Saint Germain and Tottenham supervisor had agreed to succeed Gregg Berhalter on the helm of USMNT, the U.S. Soccer Federation on Tuesday formally introduced the hiring of the 52-year-old Argentine.

“The choice to affix U.S. Soccer wasn’t nearly soccer for me; it is in regards to the journey that this workforce and this nation are on,” Pochettino stated in a press launch. “The power, the fervour, and the starvation to attain one thing actually historic right here — these are the issues that impressed me. The chance to guide the U.S. males’s nationwide workforce, in entrance of followers who’re simply as passionate because the gamers, is one thing I could not go up. I see a gaggle of gamers filled with expertise and potential. And collectively, we will construct one thing particular that the entire nation could be happy with.” 

Pochettino will journey to New York Metropolis on Thursday. He can be formally launched at a information convention in Manhattan on Friday morning.

Pochettino is the second high-profile, highly-decorated former Chelsea supervisor that Matt Crocker, U.S. Soccer’s sporting director, has employed within the final 10 months. Emma Hayes left Chelsea Ladies for the U.S. girls’s nationwide workforce final November. The London native  promptly led the USWNT to its fifth Olympic gold meal, beating Brazil within the last at this summer season’s Paris Video games in simply her tenth recreation within the job.

“Mauricio is a serial winner with a deep ardour for participant improvement and a confirmed potential to construct cohesive and aggressive groups,” Crocker stated. “His monitor file speaks for itself, and I’m assured that he’s the best option to harness the immense potential inside our proficient squad. We’re thrilled to have Mauricio on board as we embark on this thrilling journey to attain success on the worldwide stage.”  

[RELATED: Why Mauricio Pochettino’s résumé is better than any USMNT manager ever]

U.S. Soccer reached a deal with Pochettino last month, however Tuesday’s announcement was delayed till he was formally launched from his contract with the Blues. That pact was set to run out this summer season. The ultimate particulars have been confirmed on Tuesday afternoon, about 4 hours earlier than the USMNT met New Zealand in a pleasant right here.

Monetary particulars weren’t disclosed. However Pochettino was one of many highest-paid coaches on the earth throughout his stints at Chelsea and PSG. U.S. Soccer stated that the appointment was “supported in vital half by a philanthropic management reward” from billionaire  Kenneth C. Griffin with “extra help” from Scott Goodwin, additionally a rich hedge fund supervisor.   

Pochettino turns into simply the second non-American citizen to teach the U.S. males since 1990. Serbian Bora Milutinović guided this system to the second spherical of the 1994 World Cup — the final time the most important occasion in sports activities was held stateside. Germany’s Jürgen Klinsmann additionally acquired the USMNT out of the group stage, in 2014, however was fired after opening the ultimate spherical of 2018 World Cup qualifying with consecutive losses. The U.S. would go on to overlook the quadrennial match for the primary time in 32 years.

USMNT’s Mauricio Pochettino: What to anticipate in his first 100 Days? | SOTU

Berhalter was employed in 2018 and certified the U.S. for Qatar 2022, the place the People went undefeated in group play with a win over Iran and ties in opposition to Wales and England, one of many title favorites. They misplaced to the Netherlands within the spherical of 16. Berhalter finally signed a contract extension by way of 2026, however was fired in July after the U.S. grew to become the primary Copa America host to not attain the knockout rounds.

Pochettino’s most up-to-date job was at Chelsea, which he took from twelfth the English Premier League standings to sixth in 2023-24, his lone season in control of the Blues’. He received Ligue 1 and French Cup titles throughout his 18-month stint at PSG. He constructed his status as one among world soccer’s prime coaches throughout his five-plus years at Tottenham Hotspur, taking Spurs to their highest Premier League end and factors complete in 2018 and the UEFA Champions League last a yr later.

Pochettino’s first recreation with the USMNT can be Oct. 12, a pleasant in opposition to Panama in Austin, Texas.

Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports activities. He was a workers author with ESPN and Yahoo Sports activities earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities in 2021, and he has lined United States males’s and girls’s nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Observe him @ByDougMcIntyre.

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