Mauricio Pochettino named United States coach: ‘I could not pass this up’

Mauricio Pochettino has been appointed the new head coach of the United States national team, ruling him out of the race to be Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor at England.
Former Chelsea head coach Pochettino will lead the US into the 2026 World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico.
“The decision to join US Soccer wasn’t just about football for me; it’s about the journey that this team and this country are on,” Pochettino said in a statement.
“The energy, the passion, and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here — those are the things that inspired me.
“The opportunity to lead the US men’s national team, in front of fans who are just as passionate as the players, is something I couldn’t pass up.
“I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we’re going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of.”
Introducing… #USMNT Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino 🇺🇸
It represents a huge coup for the US and a new challenge for Pochettino, who has never managed an international team before.
Pochettino had been in negotiations with US technical director Matt Crocker, whom he worked with at Southampton, and became the overwhelming choice for the role after Jurgen Klopp made it clear he was not interested in an instant return to coaching.
The news of Pochettino’s appointment has been welcomed in America and the fact he is a Spanish speaker makes it a particularly popular move among the country’s Latino population.
Pochettino had been considered one of the leading candidates to permanently succeed Southgate as England manager, but the Football Association has put Lee Carsley in interim charge for their Nations League games.
The United States will not have to pay any compensation to Chelsea. The terms of Pochettino’s exit dictated that only a top-six Premier League club would have to pay a £5 million fee to appoint him within six months of his Stamford Bridge departure.
It is anticipated that Pochettino will be joined in the US role by his former Chelsea staff of assistant Jesús Pérez, coach Miguel D’Agostino, goalkeeping coach Toni Jiménez and the Argentine’s son Sebastiano.
The US will now have two former Chelsea coaches in charge of their national teams after Emma Hayes took charge of the women’s team.
“His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad,” Crocker added.
“We are thrilled to have Mauricio on board as we embark on this exciting journey to achieve success on the global stage.”
England fans will be wondering why Pochettino has not held out to ensure he would not get the permanent gig to replace Southgate. Maybe he knows which way the wind is blowing, or maybe the US job is more attractive than many will initially think.
Pochettino’s relationship with Crocker immediately puts him in a powerful position, and the fact that, as co-hosts, the US do not have to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, means the Argentine has two years’ grace to prepare for the tournament with a squad that has underperformed recently.
There will, of course, be extra pressure not to flop on home soil, but interest levels in football are expected to go through the roof in the US when the world’s best players arrive.
Pochettino should be able to increase standards quickly and restore a feel-good factor with his infectious personality. 
While the basic salary of the US coach might not be astronomical by Premier League standards, it is thought that Pochettino will be able to earn big money from sponsorships and endorsements before and during the World Cup, should he wish.
Being a newcomer to international football management adds a layer of intrigue to the appointment, but he should be able to win over the US press pretty easily and his man-management skills will quickly work on his players.
And let’s face it, this role is a part-time job on full-time money, which is a win-win in anybody’s book.