Tottenham: Mauricio Pochettino would like to return one day

Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has stated that he hopes to return to the North London club one day. He managed Spurs from 2014 to 2019, leading the team to significant achievements, including a Premier League runner-up finish in the 2016-17 season, a League Cup final in 2015, and a Champions League final in 2019. His tenure is remembered as a golden era for the club.

Pochettino was dismissed in November 2019 and subsequently managed Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. In September 2023, he was appointed as the head coach of the US national team. He told Sky Sports that when he left Tottenham, he said he hoped to return to the club one day, a sentiment he still holds true.

"I am in the US now, so I am not going to talk about it now. But what I said six years ago, five years after I still keep in my heart. Yes, I hope one day to be back there," Pochettino said. He stated that despite being dismissed by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, he still maintains a "very good relationship" with Levy, highlighting their mutual respect.

"It's true that the relationship was really tough after nearly six years, all the ups and downs and the emotions," he added. "The way we split was perfect. The job is one thing, the personal relationship is another. We have kept a very, very good relationship since the day we split at Tottenham," demonstrating the importance of separating professional and personal matters.

Pochettino spent one season at Chelsea, helping the team reach the League Cup final and FA Cup semi-final, and finishing sixth in the Premier League. Afterwards, both parties reached an agreement in May of last year to part ways amicably. "When things are not going well, it is best to stop and find a different direction. I think it was the best decision for both sides," he said. "I think both sides were happy to split and be open to different options, and different options appeared."

After leaving Stamford Bridge, Pochettino was linked with the England national team job, but ultimately Thomas Tuchel was appointed last autumn. Pochettino stated that the timing wasn't right for England, but the opportunity to manage the US team, co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, was too good to pass up. "To be the coach of England is an honour, but sometimes the timing is not matching - when you are available, the opportunity may disappear," he said. "For a coaching staff like us that has been working for many years in clubs, to have the possibility to be involved in the US national team for the 2026 World Cup is an amazing challenge. When the offer arrived, it was easy to say 'yes'."