Mauricio Roberto Pochettino was born on 2 March 1972 in Murphy, Santa Fe. He is an Argentine professional football manager and former player who is the current head coach of the United States men’s national team.
โฝ Playing Career
Pochettino played as a centre-back and began his career in 1989 with Primera Divisiรณn club Newell’s Old Boys. He won a league title and finished as runner-up in the 1992 Copa Libertadores.
In 1994, he transferred to newly promoted La Liga club Espanyol. He helped establish their top-flight status and won the 2000 Copa del Rey, their first trophy in 60 years.
In 2001, he joined Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain. He then had a stint with Bordeaux before returning to Espanyol in 2004, winning another Copa del Rey in 2006.
Pochettino was capped 20 times for the Argentina national team. He played at the 1999 Copa Amรฉrica and 2002 FIFA World Cup.
๐ Managerial Career
After retiring as a player, Pochettino began his managerial career at Espanyol in 2009. In 2013, he was appointed at Premier League club Southampton, leading them to an eighth-place finish that season.
He joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2014 and served as their third longest manager in club history. He finished as Premier League runners-up in the 2016โ17 season and led the club to their first Champions League final in 2019.
In 2021, Pochettino joined Paris Saint-Germain, where he won the Ligue 1 title and Coupe de France. He took over as Chelsea manager for the 2023โ24 season, mutually agreeing to part ways after just one season.
๐ค Personal Background
Pochettino was born to Amalia and Hรฉctor Pochettino, a farm labourer. His family is of Italian descent from Piedmont.
Between the age of eight and ten, he played both football and volleyball, and also learned judo. He supported Racing Club de Avellaneda as a child.
He started playing as a centre-back at an early age for Uniรณn y Cultura. He also played as a striker and midfielder.
๐ Career Statistics
| Club/Team | Years | Role | Key Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newell’s Old Boys | 1989โ1994 | Player | Won 1990โ91 national championship |
| Espanyol | 1994โ2001, 2004โ2006 | Player | Won 2000 and 2006 Copa del Rey |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2001โ2003 | Player | Won 2001 UEFA Intertoto Cup |
| Argentina National Team | 1999โ2002 | Player | 20 caps, played at 2002 World Cup |