United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino has dismissed speculation linking him with a return to Tottenham Hotspur, calling the idea “not realistic” as the Premier League club begins its search for a new manager.
Spurs parted ways with Ange Postecoglou on Friday, just over two weeks after he led them to their first major trophy in 17 years with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final. Despite that success, the club endured a dismal domestic campaign, finishing just above the Premier League’s relegation zone after 22 defeats-marking their worst season in nearly 50 years.
Pochettino, who previously managed Tottenham from 2014 to 2019 and guided them to the Champions League final in 2019, has long been linked with a potential return whenever the manager’s seat becomes vacant. But speaking after the U.S. national team’s 2-1 defeat to Turkey in a friendly on Saturday, the Argentine played down the rumours.
“After I left in 2019, every time I was free and the manager’s position at Tottenham was open, my name appeared,” said Pochettino. “If you’ve seen the rumours, I think there are 100 coaches on the list. Don’t worry about that.”
The 53-year-old, who previously managed Espanyol, Southampton, and Paris Saint-Germain, signed a two-year deal to lead the U.S. men’s national team in September. His current focus is preparing the squad for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“If something happened, for sure you would see, but we can’t talk about this kind of thing because today, it’s not real. It’s not realistic,” he added. “And look at where I am, where we are. The answer is so clear, no? But we’re talking about it because it’s my club-like Newell’s or Espanyol.”
Spurs have been linked with several potential candidates to replace Postecoglou, including Brentford’s Thomas Frank, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, and Fulham’s Marco Silva. Whoever takes the reins will become the club’s fifth permanent manager in just six years.
The U.S. will aim to bounce back when they host Switzerland in Nashville on Tuesday, hoping to avoid a fourth straight defeat under Pochettino’s leadership.
