Pochettino named as new US men's coach

Mauricio Pochettino, the former manager of Chelsea, has been appointed as the new head coach of the United States men's national soccer team, as announced by US Soccer on Tuesday.

The Argentine, who has previously managed Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur, expressed that his choice to join US soccer transcends mere football; it is about the nation's ongoing journey, which he found too compelling to decline.

"The enthusiasm, dedication, and desire to accomplish something truly remarkable here are what motivated me," he stated in a press release.

"I recognize a squad brimming with talent and potential, and together, we will create something extraordinary that the entire nation can take pride in."

Matt Crocker, the Sporting Director of US Soccer, remarked that Pochettino is a "serial winner with a profound commitment to player development."

"His impressive history is well-documented, and I am assured that he is the ideal candidate to unlock the vast potential within our skilled team. We are excited to welcome Mauricio as we embark on this thrilling journey toward achieving success on the international stage."

The United States has been without a head coach since the disappointing early exit from the Copa America on home turf in July, which resulted in the dismissal of Gregg Berhalter following his second term in charge.

The 51-year-old was initially appointed in 2018 and guided the team to the knockout rounds of the 2022 World Cup, but shortly thereafter, he became embroiled in a contentious public dispute with one of the team's promising young players, Gio Reyna.

During the search for a new coach after Berhalter's contract expired at the end of 2022, candidates included Canada’s coach Jesse Marsch, but ultimately, Berhalter was rehired in June of the previous year with the players' full backing.

However, this decision did not yield the desired results, as the US team failed to advance past the group stages of the Copa America, suffering a surprising 2-1 defeat to Panama and a significant 1-0 loss to Uruguay.

Pochettino will succeed Mikey Varas, who served as interim coach during the recent friendlies against Canada last Saturday and New Zealand on Tuesday.