Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to one of the top five jobs in international soccer. That’s what it means to be the new manager of the U.S. men’s national team in 2024.
Where else would he rather be? Brazil, Argentina and England, maybe. Those are the big three.
Then there are the giants like Spain, France, Germany and Italy, but recent history has shown us that those countries do not hire foreign coaches. So what could be more appealing than the USMNT?
Look at the infrastructure and the finances on offer. But above all, this is about opportunity. Pochettino has the chance to lead the United States to a home World Cup in 2026.
It will be the biggest event in the history of the sport and so US Soccer had to make this deal right. They couldn’t afford to end up with option C or D.
Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to be named the new coach of the United States men’s national team
DailyMail.com columnist Tim Howard
They needed to flex their muscles, dig deep into their pockets and go for the biggest names. They needed to find someone with authority, someone who would give the USMNT the best chance of avoiding a repeat of this summer’s Copa America disaster.
That meant hiring Jurgen Klopp or Gareth Southgate or Pochettino. Job done. It’s a huge statement and I’m happy with it.
There will undoubtedly be fans who will find gaps in his resume, because Pochettino hasn’t won trophies everywhere he’s been. That’s stupid.
No doubt some fans would prefer an American at the helm. That’s more understandable bbut unfortunately, few American managers have had success on the world stage. They are fighting the same battle that we players have fought for so long – and frankly still fight. A stigma against Americans.
So it’s simple: The US needs to have the best manager for the job. As a country, we are a melting pot of colors and cultures. As a team, we have players from all international backgrounds. That’s who we are. And that’s what makes us great.
Pochettino is the first foreigner to coach the US national team since the appointment of Jurgen Klinsmann in 2011.
I was there before, during and after his government. I was in the national team for 15 years and I can’t remember there ever being a bigger gap between the players and the manager than under Jurgen.
Pochettino is the first foreigner to coach the USMNT since Jurgen Klinsmann arrived in 2011
Gregg Berhalter was fired by the USMNT after disappointing results at the Copa America
He organised many team outings. He specialised in fluff and philosophical rhetoric. But there was zero football.
We went to Versailles, we went to the 9/11 memorial, we went on boat rides. He made us come to lunch and sing the national anthem. He dictated when we slept and when we woke up. He decided what we wore.
He replaced sugary snacks and imposed stricter curfews. He tried to change our breathing, he sent us on empty stomach runs in the morning. He hired people and literally invented staff positions for them.
Jurgen tried to reinvent the wheel but he didn’t teach us much football so we had to rely on the likes of Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan and Jozy Altidore to bring the team together and win games – despite the manager.
The lesson Pochettino can learn from Klinsmann? Understand the American player. Don’t make it about yourself. Every culture has different nuances, no matter where in the world you’re coaching. So yes, players need to be pushed out of their comfort zone, but you have to learn what makes people tick.
The former Paris Saint-Germain manager has worked with superstars including Kylian Mbappe
Just because you understand the game doesn’t make you a good coach. You have to be able to get your message across to the players. Fortunately, Pochettino has shown that he is humble. He has the ability to develop his style and give players the platform to express themselves.
He will inherit a young, hungry USMNT built on solid foundations. Gregg Berhalter did a great job of changing the mindset and building a culture of expansive football. But he never achieved that signature win.
Fortunately, those same players will now reap the rewards of working with Pochettino. When a manager of his calibre asks you to do something, players respond. Why? Because he’s had success. Because he’s managed the likes of Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe. So players know: there’s a reason behind it. He’s got bigger, better players than me doing it.
I remember going through a difficult period at Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson told me how Fabien Barthez and Peter Schmeichel also struggled.
US Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker led the search for Berhalter’s successor
There are other coaches who try the same tactics and you think, ‘Okay, whatever.’ But when a manager of that calibre, who has worked with such players, can make comparisons, it gives confidence.
The challenge for Pochettino is to adapt his methods to international football, when his time with his players is severely limited. But that is a problem you overcome by setting standards early – and often.
That means his players have to absorb a lot of information very quickly. More meetings, more time on the practice field. That means traveling outside of camp with players and sporting directors.
Pochettino doesn’t have much time left before the World Cup starts. The last time UMSN looked abroad for a manager, they spent a lot of money and didn’t get value for money. That won’t happen this time.