Mauricio Pochettino is the manager of the United States men’s national team, but had things been different, he could be in charge of one of the world’s giants
It’s approaching a decade since Mauricio Pochettino fulfilled one of his lifelong ambitions.
The Argentine, who is yet to clinch a significant title outside France, will spearhead the United States men’s national football team’s campaign to win the 2026 World Cup, with the tournament heading across the pond to the USA, Mexico, and Canada. However, his career might have taken a different path as he was once on the brink of managing English heavyweights Manchester United.
Back in 2016, while at the helm of Tottenham Hotspur, Pochettino reportedly had a secret dinner with United’s iconic former boss, Sir Alex Ferguson. Though Pochettino brushed it off as a casual meal between two professionals, that encounter soon tied him to rumours about taking over the reins at United.
After all, Ferguson had a huge say in choosing United’s managers, particularly when he hand-picked David Moyes in 2013. But with United floundering under Louis van Gaal, the image of Ferguson and Pochettino leaving the same restaurant fuelled speculation about the latter’s potential reign at Old Trafford.
When pressed about their meeting during a subsequent press conference after being seen with Ferguson, Pochettino said: “For me, it was a dream come true.
“When I was young, when I started my career as a manager, he was always my inspiration, my reference and when you can share two hours with a person who, for me, was the greatest manager in the world, the history of football, you can only enjoy.”
Despite being seen as a potential candidate for the Manchester United managerial role, Pochettino did not end up at the helm of the Red Devils. Instead, the divisive Jose Mourinho took charge, only to be succeeded by ex-player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the close of 2018.
Pochettino’s name was thrown into the mix when both managers were dismissed and again last year when Erik ten Hag was under pressure at Old Trafford. When the Dutchman managed to hang onto his job, Pochettino was appointed as the manager of the USA team.
When he joined the USA, Pochettino said: “I think it’s a great opportunity for us. As a coaching staff, to live that experience, because we really believe that is the most important thing.
“We really believe that we can do something good and work in a very nice environment. But if you say to me, I need to pick only one sentence or one word, because we believe. Belief.
“It’s belief that we can help to work together and to try to achieve what the people and us all want, you know, to win and to not only win games, to go for big trophies.
“To have the possibility to be there competing for the World Cup, or the Copa America, or the trophies for all the fans and, of course, the players and us, we dream.”
Pochettino kicked off his tenure with the USA by securing a 2-0 win in his first match but suffered a 2-0 defeat by Mexico in his second outing. However, he rebounded impressively, steering the Stars and Stripes to a resounding 5-2 aggregate triumph over Jamaica in the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final.
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