Mauricio Pochettino always planned to lead the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) to the 2026 World Cup, but his ambitions after that project were always unclear.
But now, following the sacking of Ruben Amorim and Thomas Frank, the door is open once again for a return to the Premier League.
Pochettino’s time in charge of Tottenham Hotspur from 2014 to 2019 was a whirlwind.
He was incredibly successful in the sense that he changed the perception of Spurs, qualifying for the Champions League in most seasons, competing for the title and even reaching the Champions League final.
Unable to secure the additional investment needed to close the gap between second and first place in the Premier League, he was inevitably a victim of his own achievements.
The club has gone through a number of managers since then president Daniel Levy decided to sack the Argentine manager.
Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, Antonio Conte and Ange Postecoglou have all left.
That was before Thomas Frank was flown in from Brentford, allowing the north London club to offer Champions League football.
Frank has been in charge for the second consecutive season, with the club fighting for relegation, and ENIC Group decided on Wednesday to sack the Danish manager.
Now, the conversation turns to what happens next at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with many hoping that time will pass in the form of Pochettino’s return.
Could Pochettino return to London?
Pochettino may feel he has unfinished business at Tottenham
Pochettino enjoys a god-like status at Tottenham, and his reputation has only grown through his absence.
He took Spurs to heights no one thought they could reach without a nation-state takeover. And his work at Chelsea since then has actually been quite impressive given their shotgun approach to reinforcements.
Pochettino often speaks passionately about his time at the club and even hinted at a possible long-term future in response to a question from Jake Humphrey on the High Performance Podcast.
“For me it’s the Champions League and the Premier League. I don’t know how, but I’m going to achieve it (winning the Premier League),” Pochettino declared.
When asked if a particular job appealed to him, the former Espanyol manager kept his cards close to his chest.
“I don’t know which club I’ll be in. I can’t tell you because I don’t have a club,” he added.
The World Cup is the immediate focus
It’s clear that nothing will happen right away, and Pochettino is focused on working with the American team at their home World Cup.
His next assignment will be two friendlies against European opponents in Belgium and Portugal on March 28 and April 1, respectively, during which his agent is expected to work overtime.
Both Spurs and Manchester United are set to hire new permanent coaches at the end of this season, and both have been linked with Pochettino for some time.
There was a sense that the Argentine had missed the Old Trafford boat, signing for PSG and Chelsea at a time when United needed a new manager.
And on the other hand, many Spurs fans felt he could never return having played a role at London rivals Chelsea.
Who knows what will happen to Arne Slott at Liverpool or Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
But with Pochettino apparently planning a return to the Premier League, the only question to answer is when.
