Maurizio Pochettino has been appointed as the head coach of the U.S. men's national soccer team.

The U.S. Soccer Association announced on its official website on the 11th (Korea time) that "Pochettino has been appointed as the new coach of the U.S. men's national soccer team."메이저놀이터

Pochettino is a leader who enjoyed his prime in the 2010s. Since his inauguration as Espanyol coach in 2009, he has successfully secured the bottom team in La Liga. Based on his strong capacity as a manager, Pochettino displayed aggressive soccer with strong pressure, raising expectations as a rising star.

Pochettino, who also showed good performance in Southampton for a season, will then face a golden age at Tottenham Hotspur. The striker enjoyed the "DESK Line," which combines Son Heung-min, Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, while Belgian centerback duo Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld held out at the back. There was also an outstanding repression genius called Moussa Dembele in the midfield, and Kyle Walker and Danny Rose were recognized for their skills to work with the English national team. Pochettino did not win the title at Tottenham, but he led Tottenham's revival by achieving the runner-up finish in the 2018-2019 UEFA Champions League.

Since then, however, his coaching career has been disappointing. After taking over as manager of Paris Saint-Germain in the 2021-2022 season, Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe had excellent offensive resources, but failed to organize tactics to maximize them. In the 2023-2024 season, he also had to leave Chelsea after one season, falling behind modern soccer trends in build-up and detailed offensive tactics.

The U.S. national team coach gives Pochettino an opportunity to make a comeback. The U.S. team replaced Greg Berholter after failing to play in the group league at the 2024 Copa America, and succeeded in bringing Pochettino in. As the U.S. has qualified to host the 2026 World Cup in North Korea and the U.S., Pochettino may be able to perform well on the back of home fans' support if the team is well organized.

Matt Crocker, the U.S. national team's general manager, said Pochettino had a strong passion for player development. "He is a champion with proven ability to build a cohesive and competitive team. I am confident that Pochettino's appointment is the right choice to utilize the huge potential of the national team," the U.S. national team's general manager said in anticipation of his success at the World Cup.

"The decision to join the U.S. national team was not only about soccer but also about the journey that this team and this country will make. The energy, passion, and desire to achieve historic achievements here inspired me. I couldn't miss the opportunity to lead the U.S. in front of fans as passionate as the players," Pochettino said, vowing to produce proud results at the World Cup with players with talent and potential.