Mauricio Pochettino agrees immediate return to management in shock first venture into international football
MAURICIO POCHETTINO is set to seal a swift return to football management by agreeing to become the head of the US men's team, according to reports.
Pochettino, 52, left his role at Chelsea at the end of last season.
And the Argentine is now set to swap club football for the international stage after striking a deal to lead the USA, according to Prime Video reporter Ivan Kasanzew.
He will replace Gregg Berhalter, who was fired from the role after a horror Copa America campaign which saw the nation crash out in the group stages.
On their search for a new coach after Berhalter's sacking, USA technical director Matt Crocker said: "Our immediate focus is on finding a coach who can maximize our potential as we continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, and we have already begun our search process."
Pochettino was picked ahead of other candidates such as Marcelo Bielsa, Thierry Henry and Jurgen Klopp, with the latter rejecting an approach from them last month.
The former Tottenham and Southampton gaffer had previously been considered a candidate for the England job before Lee Carsley was named as interim team boss.
If appointed, his first game in charge of the USA will see him take on Jesse Marsch's Canada on September 7.
With the likes of Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun in their ranks, the US men's team had been billed as a "golden generation", but as so far failed to live up to that name.
Team bosses clearly hope Pochettino's record of developing talent can translate to the international stage, where they will hoping for a good showing when they host the 2026 World Cup.
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It makes him the second ex-Blues boss to take charge of a US national side after legendary manager Emma Hayes took over the USWNT.
And he will be hoping to follow in her footsteps by winning some international glory, with Hayes already guiding her team team to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
More to follow.
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