Miami: Argentina's Mauricio Pochettino has been appointed as the new head coach of the US national team, the US Soccer Federation announced on Tuesday.
The former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Espanyol coach replaces American Greg Berhalter, who was sacked in July after a disappointing Copa America campaign.
Pochettino is the biggest name coach to take over for the United States and the first foreigner since German Jurgen Klinsmann, who was fired in 2016.
Pochettino, 52, has been unemployed since his sudden departure from Chelsea in May after just one season in charge.
U.S. Soccer did not provide details on the length of the deal, but Pochettino will lead the team at the 2026 World Cup, which the United States co-hosts with Mexico and Canada.
“Mauricio is a consistent winner with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive and competitive teams,” said Matt Crocker, US Soccer's director of sports who led the search for a new coach.
“His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the enormous potential within our talented team,” he added.
Pochettino has a track record of promoting young talent at Southampton, Tottenham and Spanish club Espanyol earlier in his managerial career.
At Tottenham, Pochettino was instrumental in shaping the career of England captain Harry Kane and he turned Spurs into regular top four finishers and also guided them to the Champions League final in 2019.
The Argentine, who has coached stars such as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in Paris, said he is relishing the chance to advance the American team.
“The decision to join US Soccer wasn't just about soccer for me; It's about the journey of this team and this country,” Pochettino said.
“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 as passionate as the players, was something I couldn't pass up.”
“I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we are going to build something special that the entire nation can be proud of,” he added.
Pochettino inherited a relatively young squad that reached the last 16 at the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, losing to the Netherlands in the knockout stages.
But the young side's hopes of progressing to 2026 were damaged by a lackluster Copa America campaign in July, when the team failed to get out of the group stage with just one win from three games after defeats to Panama and Uruguay.
Berhalter, who was heavily criticized by fans and pundits, was fired and the association took its time searching for his replacement.
US Soccer chief executive JT Batson said he was confident Pochettino was the right coach to get the best out of a team led by AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic.
“His deep knowledge of the game, his commitment to developing talent, and his relentless pursuit of excellence are what we need as we prepare for the 2026 World Cup,” he said.
The financial package to bring in Pochettino included negotiations with his former club Chelsea and support from donations from the business world.
“Pochettino's appointment is significantly supported by a philanthropic leadership gift from Kenneth C. Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel and founder of Griffin Catalyst. Additional support is provided by Scott Goodwin, co-founder and managing partner of Vyas, and several business partners,” US Soccer said. said in their statement.
The appointment is the second by Croker, a Welshman who previously worked with Pochettino at Southampton.
Croker brought in Emma Hayes, another former Chelsea coach, to lead the women's team which she won Olympic gold at last month's Paris Games.
