Mauricio Pochettino ‘sounded out’ over instant return to management after Jurgen Klopp rejected role
MAURICIO POCHETTINO is a potential candidate for the USA job after leaving Chelsea this summer, according to reports in Argentina.
This comes just days after former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp rejected the stateside role.
The US men’s national team are still on the hunt for their next head coach after the sacking of Gregg Berhalter.
The 50-year-old was dismissed on the back of their shock group stage exit while hosting the Copa America.
The vacancy needs to be filled sooner rather than later as the United States will co-host the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada.
And now former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Pochettino has been ‘sounded out’ for the role.
Pochettino has been left without a job since he mutually agreed to controversially leave Chelsea after guiding them to sixth in the Prem.
It is believed he is regarded as the ideal candidate for USMNT officials, who are seeking a young, high profile manager who has experience working with world-class players.
Klopp, who called time on his legendary stint as Liverpool manager at the end of last season, reportedly rejected the US team’s advances last week.
Klopp plans to have a break from football after going head-to-head with Pep Guardiola for the Premier League title for several years.
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Pochettino has coached some of the biggest names in football, including Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Harry Kane, Cole Palmer and Thiago Silva.
His best work came in charge of Spurs, whom he guided to a first ever Champions League final as well as multiple top-four finishes in the league.
At PSG and Chelsea, the Argentine failed to have the same kind of impact and eventually left both teams earlier than anticipated.
Pochettino also sits at 4/1 odds to land the England job after Gareth Southgate called time on his eight years in charge on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, former Liverpool Rafael Benitez is also among the proposed contenders to nab the USA job.
Benitez has opted to contact the top officials of the USMNT Federation to show interest in the project, according to Spanish news outet AS Sport.
Pochettino’s Chelsea record
MAURICIO POCHETTINO had just started to turn Chelsea around.
An impressive run of end-of-season form saw the Blues leapfrog the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle to finish sixth in the Premier League – and earn a Europa League spot.
But it wasn’t enough to keep him in a job as it was announced on Tuesday evening that the Argentine had left.
Here are all Pochettino’s Stamford Bridge stats:
Premier League – 6th
FA Cup – Semi-finals (lost to Man City)
Carabao Cup – Runners-up (Lost to Liverpool)
Total record:
Games 51
Wins 26
Draws 11
Defeats 14
Goals for 103
Goals against 74