Mauricio Pochettino has revealed he would have accepted the Tottenham job even if the club were in the Championship, but insists he is fully committed to leading the United States into the next World Cup.
The US boss confirmed he was approached to return to Spurs last season while the club were fighting relegation. However, he said he was dedicated to his role with the national team and has since signed a contract until 2030 because he enjoys the job so much.
Open to Tottenham in any division
Asked if he would have taken the Spurs job in the Championship, Pochettino said: “Yes, of course. Tottenham? Yes, of course. It’s the only club that always I am open to help. Whatever division. Another club, no. But Tottenham, yes.”
The former Spurs boss, who spent five years at the club and remains popular with fans, has previously said he would like to return one day. But he says the timing has never been right – including when he received a call after Thomas Frank had been sacked.
“Yeah but in this moment they called everyone, they called all the coaches! Free and not free!” he said.
US commitment strengthened
Tottenham endured a brief and unsuccessful spell under Igor Tudor, and Roberto De Zerbi has now been tasked with reviving the club. Pochettino, who initially said he would like to return to club management, has become more entrenched in his role as US boss, especially after the World Cup.
Pochettino and his staff, including assistant Jesus Perez, helped the US top their group and reach the last 16 before losing to Belgium. He said the support from the federation and fans during the tournament changed his mind about staying.
“One thing that changed our mind: the people. The human beings in the federation. Because before the start of the World Cup we met the whole board, the federation board in New York, before starting working with the players in Atlanta,” he explained.
“And they offered us to do four more years. I said 'yeah but if we lose all the games in the World Cup…’ But they said: ‘No, we trust in you, we trust in your job, we trust in your vision, in the way that you behave. You stayed here when it was possible to move somewhere else.’”
Affection for Tottenham and possible England interest
Pochettino still has affection for Tottenham and even sympathy for former chairman Daniel Levy after he was ousted. “I think he feels like [I did] when I was sacked! Now he knows the feeling,” said Pochettino. “I am sorry for him.”
He also admitted he might consider the England job one day in the future, despite being Argentinian and the bad blood following the World Cup semi-final.
“One thing I don’t want because the USA guys will kill me, if the headline is: ’Mauricio will consider English job.’ No, it is like I am considering it now. One day if I am free,” he said.
“For me it is because we are very similar in the way we feel the passion of football. I think we are very similar. I love the countryside, I love the farms and here it is amazing. I think you respect all the things that I also grow up with in my country.
“It is true it can be controversial because an Argentinian guy is thinking to maybe one day defend the flag of England and we were involved in a war…”
