MIAMI: Argentine Mauricio Pochettino has been named the new head coach of the US national team, the US Soccer Association announced on Tuesday.
The former manager of Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Espanyol replaces American Gregg Berhalter who was sacked in July after a disappointing Copa America campaign.
Pochettino is the biggest name coach to take charge of the United States and the first foreigner since German Juergen Klinsmann, who was fired in 2016.
Pochettino, 52, has been out of work since abruptly leaving Chelsea in May after just one season in charge.
No details on the length of the contract were released by US Soccer but Pochettino will lead the team in the 2026 World Cup which the US is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.
“Mauricio is a league winner with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive and competitive teams,” said Matt Crocker, US Soccer's sporting director 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 of our talented team,” he added.
Pochettino has previously promoted young talent in Southampton, Tottenham and Spanish Espanyol during his managerial career.
At Tottenham, Pochettino played a key role in shaping England captain Harry Kane's career and he turned Spurs into regular top-four finishers while guiding them to the 2019 Champions League final.
The Argentine, who coached stars such as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in Paris, said he relished the chance to advance in the American team.
“The decision to join US Soccer wasn't just about soccer for me; it's about the journey that this team and this country are on,” Pochettino said.
“The energy, passion and 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, is something I couldn't pass up.
“I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together we will build something special that the whole nation can be proud of,” he added.
Pochettino inherits a relatively young team that reached the round of 16 at the last World Cup in Qatar 2022, losing to the Netherlands in the knockout stages.
But hopes of a young team progressing towards 2026 were damaged by a poor Copa America campaign in July, when the team failed to progress from the group stage and finished with just one win from three games after defeats to Panama and Uruguay.
Berhalter, who had been heavily criticized by fans and pundits, was fired and the league took its time searching for his replacement.
U.S. Soccer boss JT Batson said he was convinced 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 drive for excellence are exactly what we need as we prepare for the 2026 World Cup,” he said.
The financial package to bring in Pochettino involved negotiations with his former club Chelsea and included help from donations from the business world.
“Pochettino's appointment is supported in large part by a philanthropic leadership gift from Kenneth C. Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel and founder of Griffin Catalyst. Additional support has been provided by Scott Goodwin, co-founder and Managing Partner of Diameter, and several commercial partners, US Soccer said in its statement.
The appointment is the second made by Crocker, a Welshman who previously worked with Pochettino at Southampton.
Crocker brought in another former Chelsea coach, Emma Hayes, to lead the women's team which she took to Olympic gold at the Paris Games last month.
