March 25 – Fresh from a humbling in the CONCACAF Nations League, United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) boss Mauricio Pochettino is having to deal with expanded rumors about a return to one of his former clubs, Tottenham Hotspur.
Recent photos of Pochettino having coffee with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy went viral on social media last week, sparking speculation that the Argentine, who led the North London club to consecutive top-three finishes in the Premier League, could be on his way back to the English capital.
Pochettino, who only recently signed a lucrative deal with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF), has found himself under immense pressure after losing to both Panama and Canada in the space of four days with underwhelming performances.
With the World Cup less than 400 days away, it is feared that ‘Poch’ is coming to the realization that the US is still indeed, a backwater for the ‘beautiful game’, especially as the soccer public basically turned a blind eye to his team, while packing SoFi Stadium to the rafters for their spiritual rivals, Mexico.
If Spurs were to make an early move for their popular former boss, it would cost them dearly. It has been rumored that Levy would have to part with “one of the biggest financial compensation fees in football history.”
Huge compensation packages are not unheard of, though, as their London rivals, Chelsea, parted with £21million to secure the services of Brighton’s Graham Potter, who lasted seven months before being dismissed.
Pochettino signed a two-year contract with USSF in September worth a reported £4.6m a year, but if results continue in the same manner as the Nations League, the federation top brass may have to reconsider their options.
After the disaster of previous coach Gregg Berhalter, the USSF was under pressure to hire a top name. Pochettino is a top name but with no international experience.
Facing him in the technical area at SoFi was Canada’s American boss, Jesse Marsch, who was overlooked by the USSF when Berhalter was in the wilderness following reports of domestic issues.
One wonders if there might be a small case of ‘buyer’s remorse’.
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