Mauricio Pochettino

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Mauricio Pochettino
0Full Name	Mauricio Roberto Pochettino Trossero
0Date of Birth	02 March 1972
0Place of Birth	Murphy, Argentina
0Chelsea career	2023-2024
0Win percentage	51%
0Honours	None
0Other clubs	Espanyol Southampton Tottenham Hotspur Paris Saint-Germain United States

Mauricio Pochettino is a former manager of Chelsea.

Contents 1 Before Chelsea 1.1 Early career 2 Chelsea 3 After Chelsea 4 Managerial record

Before Chelsea

Early career

Pochettino enjoyed a distinguished playing career as a central defender. He began with Newell’s Old Boys, where he emerged as a tough, intelligent defender before moving to Europe in the mid-1990s. His most significant playing years were spent with Espanyol, where he became a key figure and later captain, earning a reputation for leadership and resilience. He also played for Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux before returning to Espanyol to finish his career.

At international level, Pochettino represented Argentina and was part of the squad at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. His experiences under managers such as Marcelo Bielsa had a lasting influence on his football philosophy, particularly in relation to pressing, intensity, and collective responsibility.

Pochettino began his managerial career at Espanyol in 2009, taking charge during a relegation battle despite having no prior senior coaching experience. He successfully kept the club in La Liga and quickly earned praise for his organisation and motivational skills. His work at Espanyol laid the foundation for his reputation as a coach capable of galvanising squads under pressure and instilling strong collective identity.

In 2013, Pochettino moved to England to manage Southampton, where he introduced an aggressive pressing style and placed heavy emphasis on youth development. Southampton’s performances drew widespread admiration, and after just one season he was appointed manager of Tottenham Hotspur.

At Tottenham, Pochettino oversaw the most successful period in the club’s modern history. He transformed Spurs into consistent top-four contenders, promoted and developed a generation of young players, and led the club to the UEFA Champions League final in 2019. Although major trophies eluded him, his Tottenham side was praised for its intensity, cohesion, and attacking football. His tenure ended in November 2019 following a downturn in results, but his legacy at the club remains highly respected.

In January 2021, Pochettino returned to Paris as head coach of Paris Saint-Germain. He won the Coupe de France and later the Ligue 1 title, but his time in France was often described as unfulfilled. Managing a squad filled with global superstars proved challenging, and despite domestic success, expectations in the Champions League were not met. He left PSG in 2022.

Chelsea

Pochettino was appointed head coach of Chelsea in the summer of 2023, tasked with leading a young and expansive squad following a period of instability. His tenure was marked by an emphasis on fitness, intensity, and rebuilding team cohesion. Results were inconsistent early on, but performances improved as the season progressed.

Chelsea finished the 2023–24 campaign strongly, climbing the Premier League table and securing European qualification. Pochettino also guided the club to a domestic cup final, offering signs of progress and tactical clarity. Despite the positive momentum, he departed the club by mutual agreement at the end of the season, with both parties citing differing visions for the future.

After Chelsea

In 2024, Pochettino took on his first senior international role as head coach of the United States men's national soccer team. His appointment marked a significant step for U.S. Soccer, which sought a coach with elite European experience ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be co-hosted by the United States.

Pochettino was tasked with building a cohesive, competitive identity around a core of Europe-based players while maintaining the physical intensity traditionally associated with the U.S. team. His early work focused on improving pressing structure, tactical organisation, and emotional resilience in high-pressure matches. The role positioned him as a central figure in shaping the national team’s preparation for a home World Cup and represented a new phase in his career, shifting from club-focused projects to long-term international planning.

Managerial record

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
League	38	18	9	11	77	63	+14	47%
FA Cup	6	4	1	1	14	6	+8	67%
Lg Cup	7	4	2	1	12	5	+7	57%
Europe	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0%
Other	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0%
Total	51	26	11	14	103	74	+29	51%

Managers

Robertson (1905–06) • Lewis (1906–07) • Calderhead (1907–33) • Knighton (1933–39) • Birrell (1939–52) Drake (1952–61) • Docherty (1961–67) • Sexton (1967–74) • Suart (1974–75) • McCreadie (1975–77) • Shellito (1977–78) Blanchflower (1978–79) • Hurst (1979–81) • Neal (1981–85) • Hollins (1985–88) • Campbell (1988–91) Porterfield (1991–93) • Webb (1993) • Hoddle (1993–96) • Gullit (1996–98) • Vialli (1998–00) • Ranieri (2000–04) Mourinho (2004–07) • Grant (2007–08) • Scolari (2008–09) • Hiddink (2009) • Ancelotti (2009–11) Villas-Boas (2011–12) • Di Matteo (2012) • Benítez (2012–13) • Mourinho (2013–15) • Hiddink (2015–16) Conte (2016–)