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Mauricio Pochettino dismissed rumours linking him to the Tottenham Hotspur managerial job, emphasising his commitment to USA for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur (AP)
USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino has dismissed rumours linking him with the vacant managerial position at his former club, Tottenham Hotspur, following Ange Postecoglou’s dismissal on Friday.
The Argentinian managed Spurs for five years, starting in 2014, leading the team to a Champions League final but failing to secure a trophy with the North London club.
Despite signing a two-year contract in September to lead the USA at the 2026 World Cup, which they are co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, Pochettino’s name has appeared on bookmakers’ lists of favourites for the Spurs job and in several UK reports.
When asked about the links in his post-match press conference after the USA’s 2-1 home friendly defeat to Turkey, Pochettino downplayed the rumours.
“Since I left in 2019, whenever the managerial position at Tottenham Hotspur is vacant, my name appears on the list,” Pochettino said.
“If you’ve seen the rumours, there are about 100 coaches on the list. There’s no need to worry about that,” he added.
Pochettino has previously expressed his affection for Spurs and has not ruled out a return to the club at some point. However, he suggested that the timing was not right for a reunion with his former team.
“If something happens, you’ll see, but we can’t discuss this now because it’s not realistic. Look at where I am and where we are,” he said at the stadium press room in Hartford, Connecticut.
“The answer is clear, no? But we’re talking about it because it’s my club, like Newell’s Old Boys or Espanyol,” he added.
Postecoglou was dismissed just 16 days after ending Tottenham’s 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa Conference League. He led Tottenham to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao, securing the club’s first European trophy in 41 years and a place in next season’s Champions League.
The former Celtic boss paid the price for Tottenham’s worst domestic season since their relegation from the top flight in 1976-77.
The USA has now lost three games in a row, following defeats to Panama and Canada in March’s CONCACAF Nations League, but Pochettino remained positive about his team’s performance.
“I want to continue this attitude into the future until we reach the World Cup … that’s the only way we can improve,” he said.
“If I decide to have a different roster in September, I want the same level of commitment and attitude, without complaints,” he added.
(With inputs from AFP)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov… Read More
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London, United Kingdom (UK)
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