MIAMI: Argentine Mauricio Pochettino has been named the new head coach of the US national team, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced on Tuesday.
The former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Espanyol coach replaces American Gregg Berhalter, who was sacked in July after a disappointing Copa America campaign.
Pochettino is the biggest coach to take over for the USA and the first foreigner since Germany's Juergen Klinsmann, who was sacked in 2016.
Pochettino, 52, has been unemployed since his sudden departure from Chelsea in May after just one season in charge.
US Soccer did not provide any details on the length of the contract, but Pochettino will lead the team to the 2026 World Cup, which the US co-hosts with Mexico and Canada.
“Mauricio is a serial winner with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive and competitive teams,” said Matt Crocker, US Soccer's sporting director, who led the search for a new coach.
“His results speak for themselves and I am confident that he is the right choice to exploit the huge potential in our talented team,” he added.
Pochettino has previously promoted young talent at Southampton, Tottenham and Spain's Espanyol earlier in his managerial career.
At Tottenham, Pochettino played a key role in shaping the career of England captain Harry Kane, turning Spurs into regular top-four finishers while leading them to the 2019 Champions League final.
The Argentine, who coached stars such as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in Paris, said he relishes the chance to advance with Team USA.
“For me, the decision to join US Soccer wasn't just about soccer; it's about the journey that this team and this country is on,” said Pochettino.
“The energy, the passion and the desire to achieve something truly historic here – these are the things that inspired me. The opportunity to lead the US Men's National Team in front of fans who are just as passionate as the players is something I couldn't pass up.
“I see a group of players full of talent and potential and together we will build something special that the whole nation can be proud of,” he added.
Pochettino inherited a relatively young squad that reached the last 16 at the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, losing to the Netherlands in the knockout stages.
But hopes that the young team could progress towards 2026 were damaged by a poor Copa America campaign in July, when the team failed to progress from the group stage and finished with just one win from three games after losses to Panama and Uruguay.
Berhalter, who was heavily criticized by fans and pundits, was released and the federation took its time to find a replacement.
US Soccer chief executive JT Batson said he is confident Pochettino is the right coach to get the best out of a team led by AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic.
“His deep knowledge of the game, his commitment to developing talent and his relentless pursuit of excellence are exactly what we need as we prepare for the 2026 World Cup,” he said.
The financial package to bring in Pochettino included negotiations with his former club Chelsea and included help from donations from the business world.
“Pochettino's appointment is supported in significant part by a philanthropic leadership gift from Kenneth C. Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel and founder of Griffin Catalyst. Additional support was provided by Scott Goodwin, co-founder and managing partner of Diameter, and several commercial partners,” US Soccer said in a statement.
It is the second appointment for Crocker, a Welshman who previously worked with Pochettino at Southampton.
Crocker has brought in another former Chelsea coach, Emma Hayes, who she guided to Olympic gold at the Paris Games last month, in charge of the women's team.
