Report: USMNT to gain approval to hire Mauricio Pochettino

Field Level Media|published: Sun 8th September, 19:02 2024

Aug 2, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic (left) shakes hands with Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino (right) before the game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-Imagn Images

The U.S. Men's National Team will gain approval to hire Mauricio Pochettino Sunday from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), per a report from ESPN.

The USSF board of directors will meet and are expected to approve the hiring of Pochettino, the former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur coach.

On Sunday, FOX also reported that Jesus Perez, a longtime Pochettino assistant, will be one of the program's top assistants, with Miguel D'Agostino and keeper coach Toni Jimenez also expected to help fill out the staff.

Pochettino, 52, agreed to succeed Gregg Berhalter as the USMNT coach in August following lengthy discussions with U.S. Soccer Federation technical director Matt Crocker. The pair previously worked together at Southampton in 2013.

Upon the hire becoming official, Pochettino will lead the Americans into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, succeeding Gregg Berhalter, who was fired in July after the host U.S. squad failed to advance from the group stage at the 2024 Copa America.

More recently, USMNT lost a 2-1 friendly to Canada on Saturday in Kansas City.

Following a long playing career as a center back with Newell's Old Boys, Espanyol, PSG and Bordeaux, Pochettino took his first coaching job at Spain's Espanyol in 2009. He led Tottenham to a runner-up Premier League finish in 2016-17 and the Champions League final in 2018-19, then guided PSG to a Ligue 1 title in 2021-22.

Pochettino and Chelsea mutually parted ways in May.

--Field Level Media

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