Opinion: Why Tottenham Hotspur should bring Mauricio Pochettino back to N17
Mauricio Pochettino has stated that he’d love a return to Tottenham Hotspur. Given Ange Postecoglou’s struggles this season, the question is simple – should Spurs bring Pochettino back? Here’s why they should.
It’s no secret that Pochettino has an eye on a Spurs return in the future – the man himself has said as much in multiple interviews this week alone.
Despite his departure from the club in 2019, Pochettino has maintained a positive relationship with chairman Daniel Levy, suggesting that a comeback to Hotspur Way is only a matter of timing.
Of course, with Ange Postecoglou’s struggles this season, talk of managerial changes has surfaced. And with Pochettino publicly stating his desire to return, the question remains: should Tottenham Hotspur bring the Argentine back to N17?
Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham legacy and the debate over his return
Spurs fans are split over the idea of Pochettino’s return. Some remain against it, citing his decision to take the Chelsea job—a move seen as a betrayal given the intense rivalry between the clubs.
Others argue that, despite the quality squad he had during his first tenure, he failed to win silverware when his players were in their prime.
While these are fair points, many seem to overlook where Tottenham currently stand. Spurs are a far cry from the team Pochettino built into an elite side, one that competed at the top end of the Premier League and reached a Champions League final.
Right now, they’re languishing in 14th place—a position they haven’t finished in since the 03/04 season.
| Season | League | Rank | Manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/25 | Premier League | 14 | Ange Postecoglou |
| 23/24 | Premier League | 5 | Ange Postecoglou |
| 22/23 | Premier League | 8 | Ryan Mason |
| 21/22 | Premier League | 4 | Antonio Conte |
| 20/21 | Premier League | 7 | Ryan Mason |
| 19/20 | Premier League | 6 | José Mourinho |
| 18/19 | Premier League | 4 | Mauricio Pochettino |
| 17/18 | Premier League | 3 | Mauricio Pochettino |
| 16/17 | Premier League | 2 | Mauricio Pochettino |
| 15/16 | Premier League | 3 | Mauricio Pochettino |
| 14/15 | Premier League | 5 | Mauricio Pochettino |
| 13/14 | Premier League | 6 | Tim Sherwood |
| 12/13 | Premier League | 5 | André Villas-Boas |
| 11/12 | Premier League | 4 | Harry Redknapp |
| 10/11 | Premier League | 5 | Harry Redknapp |
| 09/10 | Premier League | 4 | Harry Redknapp |
| 08/09 | Premier League | 8 | Harry Redknapp |
| 07/08 | Premier League | 11 | Juande Ramos |
| 06/07 | Premier League | 5 | Martin Jol |
| 05/06 | Premier League | 5 | Martin Jol |
| 04/05 | Premier League | 9 | Martin Jol |
| 03/04 | Premier League | 14 | David Pleat |
Given this slump, attracting top-tier managers would be increasingly difficult. This explains why Spurs are being linked with names like Marco Silva, Martin Russell, and Andoni Iraola—good managers, no doubt, but not quite in the elite bracket just yet.
Why Mauricio Pochettino makes sense for Tottenham
Among the available options, Pochettino stands out as someone who has the pedigree to compete with the likes of Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, and Arne Slot.
Love him or hate him, he has proven his ability to work with young players, maximise their potential, and build a long-term project.
When he first arrived at Spurs, taking over from Tim Sherwood, he wasted no time in making an impact.
Barring his first season, where he finished fifth in the League, Pochettino never placed lower than fourth in his five full campaigns in charge. He also put together an EFL Cup final run in that same season.
Following his first campaign at Spurs, Pochettino managed two third-place finishes and a second-place finish—impressive given the club’s modest transfer budget at the time.
| Season | Club | Matches Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points | Points Per Game | League Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018/19 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 23 | 2 | 13 | 71 | 1.87 | 4th |
| 2017/18 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 23 | 8 | 7 | 77 | 2.03 | 3rd |
| 2016/17 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 26 | 8 | 4 | 86 | 2.26 | 2nd |
| 2015/16 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 70 | 1.84 | 3rd |
| 2014/15 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 64 | 1.68 | 5th |
Even when the Lilywhites went multiple windows without signing a single player, he still guided them to a Champions League final and masked many of the shortcomings of the Levy era.
Would a Pochettino return stabilise Spurs?
With Tottenham now boasting a squad brimming with young talent and Levy finally showing some willingness to invest, bringing Mauricio Pochettino back seems like a logical step.
His track record suggests he could at the very least provide much-needed stability to a club that has lacked direction in recent years.
That said, given his commitment to managing the USA national team, a return anytime soon seems unlikely. But if the opportunity does present itself, it’s one that Tottenham should seriously consider.
| Achievement | Season | Club | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1x French Champion | 21/22 | Paris Saint-Germain | Ligue 1 |
| 1x French Cup Winner | 20/21 | Paris Saint-Germain | Coupe de France |
| 1x French Super Cup Winner | 20/21 | Paris Saint-Germain | Trophée des Champions |
| 1x Champions League Runner-up | 18/19 | Tottenham Hotspur | UEFA Champions League |
| 2x Champions League Participant | 20/21, 16/17 | Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham Hotspur | UEFA Champions League |
| 1x Europa League Participant | 14/15 | Tottenham Hotspur | UEFA Europa League |
| EFL Cup Finalist | 23/24 | Chelsea FC | EFL Cup |
| FA Cup Semi-Finalist | 23/24 | Chelsea FC | FA Cup |
| FA Cup Semi-Finalist | 17/18 | Tottenham Hotspur | FA Cup |
| FA Cup Semi-Finalist | 16/17 | Tottenham Hotspur | FA Cup |
| FA Cup Finalist | 14/15 | Tottenham Hotspur | FA Cup |
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