Miami: The US Soccer Federation announced on Tuesday that Argentine Mauricio Pochettino was named the new head coach of the US national team.
The former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Espanyol boss replaces American Greg Berhalter, who was sacked in July after a disappointing Copa America campaign.
Pochettino is the biggest name coach to take charge of the United States and is the first foreign player since Germany's Jurgen Klinsmann, who was sacked in 2016.
Pochettino, 52, has been out of work since his sudden departure from Chelsea in May after just one season in charge.
No details on the length of the contract were provided by US Soccer, but Pochettino will lead the team at the 2026 World Cup, which the United States 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 athletic director, who led the search for the new coach.
He added: “His track record speaks for itself and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the tremendous potential in our talented team.”
Pochettino has a history of promoting young talent at Southampton, Tottenham and Espanyol in Spain early in his coaching career.
At Tottenham, Pochettino played a key role in shaping England captain Harry Kane, leading Spurs to a top-four finish while guiding 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 help the US team improve.
The decision to join US Soccer wasn't just about soccer for me. “It's about the journey ahead of this team and this country,” Pochettino said.
“The energy, passion and hunger to achieve something truly historic here – those are the things that inspired me. The opportunity to lead the United States Men's National Team, in front of fans who are as passionate as the players, is something I cannot pass up.
He added: “I see a group of players full of talent and potential and together, we want to build something special that the whole country can be proud of.”
Pochettino inherits a relatively young team that reached the round of 16 at the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, losing to the Netherlands in the knockout stages.
But hopes of a young team progressing to 2026 were damaged by a poor Copa America campaign in July, when the team failed to progress from the group stage with just one win from three games after losing to Panama and Uruguay, finished.
Berhalter, heavily criticized by fans and pundits, was fired and the federation bided its time to find a replacement.
US Soccer chief executive JT Batson said he is convinced 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 the development of talent and his relentless pursuit of excellence are exactly what we need for the 2026 World Cup,” he said.
The financial package to attract Pochettino included negotiations with his former club Chelsea and financial assistance from the business world.
Pochettino's appointment was largely driven by a gift of philanthropic leadership from Count C. Backed by Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel and founder of Griffin Catalyst. Additional support is provided by Scott Goodwin, founder and managing partner of Diameter, and several business partners.” US Soccer said in a statement.
It is the second appointment by Crocker, a Welshman who previously worked with Pochettino at Southampton.
Crocker recruited another former Chelsea manager, Emma Hayes, to lead the women's team, who won Olympic gold at the Paris Games last month.
