Mauricio Pochettino facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mauricio Pochettino

Pochettino as manager of the United States in 2025
Personal information
Full name	Mauricio Roberto Pochettino Trossero
Date of birth	(1972-03-02) 2 March 1972 (age 53)
Place of birth	Murphy, Argentina
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	United States (head coach)
Youth career
	CR Unión y Cultura
1986–1989	Newell's Old Boys
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1989–1994	Newell's Old Boys	153	(8)
1994–2001	Espanyol	216	(11)
2001–2003	Paris Saint-Germain	70	(4)
2003–2004	Bordeaux	11	(1)
2004	→ Espanyol (loan)	21	(1)
2004–2006	Espanyol	38	(1)
Total		509	(26)
International career
1991	Argentina U20	3	(0)
1992	Argentina U23	4	(0)
1999–2002	Argentina	20	(2)
Managerial career
2009–2012	Espanyol
2013–2014	Southampton
2014–2019	Tottenham Hotspur
2021–2022	Paris Saint-Germain
2023–2024	Chelsea
2024–	United States
Medal record Men's football Representing  United States (Manager) CONCACAF Gold Cup Runner-up 2025 United States–Canada
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mauricio Roberto Pochettino Trossero (born 2 March 1972) is a famous Argentine football manager and former player. He is currently the head coach of the United States men's national team.

Pochettino played as a centre-back. He started his career in 1989 with Newell's Old Boys in Argentina. There, he won a league title. In 1994, he moved to Espanyol in Spain. He helped them win the Copa del Rey in 2000, which was their first trophy in 60 years. Later, he played for Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux in France. He returned to Espanyol in 2004 and won another Copa del Rey in 2006. Pochettino also played 20 times for the Argentina national team. He played in the 1999 Copa América and the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

After he stopped playing, Pochettino became a manager. He started at Espanyol in 2009. In 2013, he joined Southampton in England. He led them to their highest-ever Premier League finish at the time. He then managed Tottenham Hotspur from 2014 to 2019. He helped Tottenham reach their first-ever Champions League final. In 2021, he became the manager of Paris Saint-Germain, winning the Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France. He managed Chelsea for the 2023–24 season. In September 2024, he became the head coach of the United States national team.

Early Life and Football Beginnings

Mauricio Pochettino was born in Murphy, Santa Fe, Argentina. His parents were Amalia and Héctor Pochettino. His family has roots in Italy. When he was young, between eight and ten years old, he played both football and volleyball. He also learned judo. As a child, he supported Racing Club de Avellaneda.

He watched his first football match on TV during the 1978 FIFA World Cup with his father. Pochettino started playing as a centre-back for a local club called Unión y Cultura. He liked playing in defense, but he also played as a striker and midfielder. When he was 13, he trained with Rosario Central. He also played in a regional league with his older brother, Javier.

Playing Career Highlights

Newell's Old Boys Success

When Pochettino was 13, he was scouted by Jorge Griffa and Marcelo Bielsa. Bielsa later became his manager. Pochettino joined Newell's Old Boys and signed a professional contract at 16. He played his first professional game at 17 in the 1988–89 season.

At Newell's, he played under Bielsa, who taught him an intense, fast-paced style of play. This coaching style greatly influenced Pochettino. During his five years there, he won the Argentine national championship in 1991 and the 1992 Clausura. His team also reached the Copa Libertadores final in 1992. They lost in a penalty shootout to São Paulo. He even shared a room with football legend Diego Maradona for a while.

Espanyol and Copa del Rey Wins

In 1994, Pochettino chose to join Espanyol in Spain. He was 22 years old. He quickly became a key player for the team. He was known as a tough and strong centre-back. Because of his playing style, he was nicknamed "the Sheriff." This was also a nod to his grandfather, who was once a sheriff in Murphy.

In 1997, he helped Espanyol beat their rivals Barcelona 2–0. This was their first win against Barcelona in ten years. He stayed at Espanyol for six and a half years. He was very loyal to the club. In the 1999–2000 season, he helped Espanyol win the Copa del Rey. This was their first major trophy in 60 years!

Time in France

In 2001, Pochettino moved to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in France. He played regularly for PSG. He helped them win the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2001. They also reached the Coupe de France final in 2003.

After PSG, he played for Bordeaux for one season in 2003–04.

Return to Espanyol and Retirement

In 2004, Pochettino returned to Espanyol. He played for two and a half more seasons. In 2006, he was part of the team that won another Copa del Rey. Espanyol beat Zaragoza 4–1 in the final.

Pochettino retired as a player at age 34. He then studied sports management and trained to become a coach.

International Play for Argentina

Pochettino played for the Argentina under-23 team in 1992. He played four matches, but they did not qualify for the 1992 Summer Olympics.

He played 20 matches for the senior national team over four years. His former manager, Bielsa, gave him his first senior international game in 1999. Pochettino scored his first goal for Argentina in November 1999 against Spain. He played in the 1999 Copa América and the 2002 FIFA World Cup. In the 2002 World Cup, Argentina did not make it past the group stage. During a match against England, a penalty was given against Argentina after Pochettino tackled Michael Owen. David Beckham scored the penalty, which was the only goal of the game.

Managerial Journey

Starting at Espanyol

Pochettino (left) playing for Espanyol in a veterans' match in 2011

In January 2009, Pochettino became the coach of Espanyol. The team was struggling and near the bottom of the league. He had just received his coaching license and was new to managing. His first game was against Barcelona, coached by Pep Guardiola. His team played very well and got an unexpected 0–0 draw.

Pochettino's coaching helped Espanyol improve. They finished the season safely in the middle of the league table. They even beat Barcelona 2–1 in a local derby, which was their first win at Barcelona's home stadium in 27 years. He coached some players who used to be his teammates. He signed a new contract to stay for three more years.

Pochettino as coach of Espanyol in 2012

In the 2009–10 season, he again led Espanyol to a good league position. He left the club in November 2012 after some difficult results and financial issues. Even though the team was in a low position when he left, people praised his work. He was known for his specific tactical style, focusing on a high-pressing game, and promoting young players from the club's academy.

Southampton's Rise

On 18 January 2013, Pochettino became the new manager of Premier League club Southampton. His first game was a 0–0 draw against Everton. He got his first win on 9 February, beating Manchester City 3–1 at home.

Pochettino used a Spanish interpreter in press conferences at first. He led Southampton to important wins against top teams like Liverpool and Chelsea. In his first full season, he guided Southampton to an eighth-place finish. This was their highest league position since 2003 and their highest points total since the Premier League began.

Tottenham Hotspur's Success

Pochettino as manager of Tottenham Hotspur in 2016

On 27 May 2014, Pochettino became the head coach of Tottenham Hotspur. In January 2015, his team reached the League Cup final, but they lost to Chelsea. In his first season, Tottenham finished fifth in the league. He helped many young academy players, like Harry Kane, become regular first-team players. Kane, Dele Alli, and Eric Dier became important players for the England national team.

In the 2015–16 season, Tottenham competed for the league title. They finished third, which was their highest league finish since 1990. In May 2016, Pochettino signed a new contract until 2021. In the 2016–17 season, his team finished second with 86 points. This was their highest-ever points total in the Premier League. It was also their highest league ranking in 54 years.

In May 2018, Pochettino signed another contract until 2023. In December 2018, he won his 100th Premier League match as Tottenham manager. He was the first Tottenham manager to reach this milestone. On 8 May 2019, Pochettino led Tottenham to their first-ever Champions League final. They beat Ajax in an exciting semi-final. However, they lost 2–0 to Liverpool in the final in Madrid.

Five months after the Champions League final, in November 2019, Pochettino was let go by Tottenham. The team was 14th in the league at the time.

Paris Saint-Germain Return

On 2 January 2021, Pochettino became the head coach of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). He had played for PSG during his career. His first match was a 1–1 draw. Four days later, he won his first game with PSG. On 13 January, he won his first trophy as a manager: the French Super Cup.

In February 2021, PSG beat Barcelona 4–1 in the Champions League. They also beat the defending champions Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. However, they lost to Manchester City in the semi-finals. Pochettino's team won the Coupe de France final and finished second in the Ligue 1. In July 2021, he extended his contract until 2023. In the 2021–22 season, Pochettino won his first Ligue 1 title. On 5 July 2022, PSG and Pochettino decided to part ways.

Chelsea Challenge

On 29 May 2023, it was announced that Pochettino would become the head coach of Chelsea starting 1 July 2023. His first match was a 1–1 draw against Liverpool. His first win came on 25 August 2023, a 3–0 victory over Luton Town.

He led Chelsea to the League Cup final in 2024. They beat Newcastle United and Middlesbrough to reach the final. However, Chelsea lost the final 1–0 to Liverpool in extra time. On 2 May 2024, Pochettino managed his 400th game in English football. Chelsea won that game 2–0 against his former club, Tottenham.

Chelsea finished sixth in the Premier League season, qualifying for European football. However, on 21 May 2024, Chelsea announced that they had agreed to part ways with Pochettino.

United States National Team

On September 10, 2024, Pochettino was named the new head coach of the United States national team. He was chosen from a list of top coaches. His salary was partly supported by donations from business leaders. He is one of the highest-paid national team coaches in the world. Pochettino said he took the job because the U.S. will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has talented players, and soccer is growing in the country.

His first match with the U.S. team was a friendly against Panama on October 12, which they won 2–0. He then won his first two CONCACAF Nations League matches against Jamaica in November. However, the U.S. lost 0–1 to Panama in the Nations League semi-final. Three days later, they lost 1–2 to Canada in the third-place match. Pochettino asked fans to be patient after these results.

Coaching Style

Pochettino is known for his very high-pressing, attacking style of football. He often uses a 4–2–3–1 formation. He tells his teams to build plays from the back of the field. They also try to pressure opponents quickly and get the ball into the penalty box.

Many experts praise Pochettino for focusing on developing young players from the club's youth academies. He likes to promote young talent to the first team. Many young players he coached went on to play for the England national team. He felt it was his duty to help develop English talent.

Players who worked with Pochettino also say he is great at managing people. He guides them and helps them improve physically, technically, and mentally.

Personal Life

Pochettino is married to Karina Grippaldi. They have two sons, Sebastiano and Maurizio. Sebastiano works with his father as a fitness coach. Maurizio, his younger son, is a football player for Ibiza Islas Pitiusas.

Pochettino believes in "energía universal" (universal energy). This is the idea that people, places, and things have a hidden energy, either positive or negative. He once said, "I believe in that energy. For me, it exists."

Career Statistics

Club Appearances

International Appearances

Argentina score listed first, score column indicates score after each Pochettino goal.

List of international goals scored by Mauricio Pochettino

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	17 November 1999	Estadio La Cartuja, Seville, Spain	6	Spain	2–0	2–0	Friendly
2	7 October 2001	Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay	12	Paraguay	1–1	2–2	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification

Managerial Statistics

Honours and Achievements

As a Player

Newell's Old Boys

• Primera División: 1990–91, Clausura 1992

Espanyol

• Copa del Rey: 1999–2000, 2005–06

Paris Saint-Germain

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2001

As a Manager

Tottenham Hotspur

• Football League Cup/EFL Cup runner-up: 2014–15
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2018–19

Paris Saint-Germain

• Ligue 1: 2021–22
• Coupe de France: 2020–21
• Trophée des Champions: 2020

Chelsea

• Football League Cup/EFL Cup runner-up: 2023–24

United States

• CONCACAF Gold Cup runner-up: 2025

Individual Awards

• London Football Awards Manager of the Year: 2018–19

See also

In Spanish: Mauricio Pochettino para niños