Mauricio Pochettino facts for kids

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is Pochettino and the second or maternal family name is Trossero.

Quick facts for kids
Mauricio Pochettino
Personal information
Pochettino as manager of Tottenham Hotspur in 2016
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
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mauricio Roberto Pochettino Trossero (born on March 2, 1972) is an 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 (defender). He started his career in 1989 with Newell's Old Boys in Argentina. He helped them win a league title and reach the final of the Copa Libertadores in 1992. In 1994, he moved to Espanyol in Spain, where he won the Copa del Rey in 2000. He also played for Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux in France before returning to Espanyol in 2004, winning another Copa del Rey in 2006. Pochettino played 20 games for the Argentina national team, including 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, leading them to their highest-ever Premier League finish at the time. He then moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2014. With Tottenham, he helped the team finish second in the league in 2017 and reach their first-ever Champions League final in 2019.

In 2021, Pochettino became the manager of Paris Saint-Germain, where he won the Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France. He later managed Chelsea for the 2023-24 season before becoming the head coach of the United States national team in 2024.

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Early Life and Football Beginnings

Mauricio Pochettino was born in a place called Murphy, Santa Fe in Argentina. His parents were Amalia and Héctor Pochettino, who worked on a farm. 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 a football team called Racing Club de Avellaneda. He watched his first football match on TV with his dad during the 1978 FIFA World Cup.

Pochettino started playing as a centre back (a defender) for a local club called Unión y Cultura. He liked playing in defense, but he also played as a striker and midfielder sometimes. When he was 13, he trained with Rosario Central, which was a long bus ride from his home. He also played in a local league with his older brother, Javier.

Playing Career Highlights

Starting at Newell's Old Boys

When Mauricio was 13, he was noticed by Jorge Griffa and Marcelo Bielsa from Newell's Old Boys, a famous football club. Even though he was happy at Rosario Central, he decided to try out for Newell's. He quickly joined a tournament team and helped them win a final match. After that, he signed with Newell's. He became a professional player at 16 and played his first senior game when he was 17.

At Newell's, he played under coach Marcelo Bielsa, who taught him a very intense and fast style of play. This way of playing had a big impact on Pochettino. During his five years there, he won two national championships in 1991 and 1992. His team also reached the final of the Copa Libertadores in 1992, but they lost in a penalty shootout. He even played alongside the legendary Diego Maradona for a short time.

Time with Espanyol

In 1994, Pochettino decided to join Espanyol, a club in Spain. He was 22 years old and wanted to move to the city of Barcelona. Espanyol had just been promoted to the top league, La Liga. Mauricio quickly became a key player, known as a strong and tough defender.

He stayed at Espanyol for six and a half years. In 1997, he helped his team beat their big rivals, Barcelona, for the first time in ten years. In the 1999–2000 season, he helped Espanyol win the Copa del Rey, which was their first major trophy in 60 years!

Playing for Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux

In 2001, Pochettino moved to France to play for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). He quickly became a regular player there. He helped PSG win the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2001 and reach the final of the French Cup in 2003.

In 2003, he moved to another French club, Bordeaux, for one season.

Back to Espanyol

In 2004, Pochettino returned to Espanyol, first on loan and then permanently. He played for two and a half more seasons. In 2006, he was part of the team that won another Copa del Rey trophy.

After this win, a new manager came in and Pochettino decided to retire as a player at age 34. He then went to study sports management and train to become a coach.

Playing for Argentina

Pochettino played 20 games for the Argentina national team. His first game was in 1999. He scored his first goal for Argentina in a friendly match against Spain.

He played for Argentina 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. In a match against England, the referee gave England a penalty after Pochettino tackled Michael Owen. David Beckham scored from that penalty, and England won the game 1–0.

Managerial Career

Starting at Espanyol

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

In 2009, Mauricio Pochettino became the manager of Espanyol, the club where he had played for many years. The team was struggling and close to being relegated (moved down to a lower league). He had only just received his coaching license and was new to managing a senior team.

His first game was against their big rivals, Barcelona, who were coached by Pep Guardiola. Even though his team had only two training sessions with him, they managed a surprising 0–0 draw. Pochettino's team improved a lot and finished the season safely in the middle of the league table. They even beat Barcelona 2–1 in a league derby, which was their first win at Barcelona's stadium in 27 years! He coached some players who used to be his teammates.

Pochettino as coach of Espanyol in 2012

Pochettino continued to lead Espanyol to good league positions. He was known for bringing young players from the club's academy into the first team. In November 2012, he left Espanyol by agreement, as the team was in last place and he felt there were too many financial problems.

Moving to Southampton

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

Even though he knew some English, he often used an interpreter in press conferences to make sure he could express himself fully. He led Southampton to impressive wins against big teams like Liverpool and Chelsea. In his first full season, he guided Southampton to an eighth-place finish, which was their highest league position since 2003.

Leading Tottenham Hotspur

On May 27, 2014, Pochettino was appointed head coach of Tottenham Hotspur. He was their tenth manager in 12 years! In his first season, Tottenham reached the final of the League Cup, but they lost to Chelsea. He also helped many young academy players, like Harry Kane, become important first-team players.

In the 2015–16 season, Tottenham was in the running to win the league title, but they finished third. This was still their highest league finish since 1990. On May 12, 2016, Pochettino signed a new contract, and his title changed from "head coach" to "manager."

In the 2016–17 season, his team finished in second place with 86 points. This was their highest-ever points total in the Premier League and their best league finish in 54 years!

On May 8, 2019, Pochettino led Tottenham to their first-ever Champions League final after beating Ajax in an exciting semi-final. However, they lost the final 2–0 to Liverpool. Five months later, in November 2019, Pochettino was let go by Tottenham Hotspur because of disappointing results.

Managing Paris Saint-Germain

On January 2, 2021, Pochettino became the head coach of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the club he played for earlier in his career. His first game was a 1–1 draw. Four days later, he won his first game with PSG. On January 13, he won his first trophy as a manager when PSG beat their rivals Marseille in the French Super Cup.

He also led PSG to a big 4–1 win over Barcelona in the Champions League. PSG reached the semi-finals but lost to Manchester City. His team finished the season winning the French Cup but came second in the league. In the 2021–22 season, Pochettino won his first Ligue 1 title with PSG. On July 5, 2022, he left Paris Saint-Germain.

Time at Chelsea

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

He guided Chelsea to the League Cup final in 2024, but they lost 1–0 to Liverpool in extra time. On May 2, 2024, he managed his 400th game in English football, winning 2–0 against his former club, Tottenham. Chelsea finished sixth in the league, qualifying for European football next season. However, on May 21, 2024, Chelsea announced that they had agreed to part ways with Pochettino.

Coaching the United States National Team

On September 10, 2024, Pochettino was announced as the new head coach of the United States national team. His first match in charge was a 2–0 friendly win against Panama on October 12, 2024.

Coaching Style

Pochettino is known for his exciting, attacking style of football. He often uses a formation called 4–2–3–1. He teaches his teams to build plays from the back, press opponents quickly to win the ball, and move the ball into the penalty box.

Many experts praise Pochettino for focusing on young players from the clubs' youth academies. He likes to give young players a chance in the first team. He believes it's his duty to help develop local talent, especially in England, as a way to say "thank you" to the country that welcomed him.

Players who have worked with Pochettino often say he is great at managing people and guiding them. He encourages players to take charge of their own growth and helps them improve physically, technically, and mentally.

Personal Life

Mauricio Pochettino is married to Karina Grippaldi, and they have two sons, Sebastiano and Maurizio. Sebastiano worked as a sports scientist for Tottenham's first team. Maurizio also played football and signed a contract with Tottenham's development squad. In 2021, Maurizio signed for Watford.

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."

Honours and Achievements

As a Player

Newell's Old Boys

Argentine Primera División: 1990–91, Clausura 1992

Espanyol

Copa del Rey: 1999–2000, 2005–06

Paris Saint-Germain

UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2001

As a Manager