New Manchester United head coach Mauricio Pochettino has a history of going to extreme lengths in a relegation fight, with his wife joining him on a 12km pilgrimage that preceded a remarkable escape.
The Argentine has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at Old Trafford, replacing Michael Carrick. His first game in charge is on 22 November when United travel to face rivals Liverpool, with the club currently in the relegation places.
Espanyol's Great Escape
In January 2009, Pochettino took charge of struggling Spanish side Espanyol. With just 10 weeks of the season left, the team were bottom of La Liga, eight points from safety.
As reported by The Guardian at the time, Pochettino, his wife and his assistant manager packed their bags and hiked 12km to Montserrat. It was a pilgrimage to the religious mountain, which is slightly bigger than Mount Snowdon.
A Miracle at Montserrat
The mountain is home to the black virgin shrine, which was rescued from looting during the Spanish Civil War. Pochettino is said to have pleaded with the shrine to help his side pull off a miracle and survive relegation.
In their last 10 games of the season, Espanyol produced an incredible turnaround to haul themselves out of the relegation places. They won eight of those games, losing just once to Atletico Madrid, and drawing another.
Career Launch
A 3-0 win over Malaga on the final day of the season saw them secure a 10th-place finish in La Liga. It is known as one of the great escapes in La Liga history and launched Pochettino's managerial career.
The 54-year-old remained with the club until November 2012. He then made the move to the Premier League with Southampton three months later. A successful five-and-a-half years with Tottenham was followed by spells with Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. Most recently, he managed the USA national side and will take charge of his final two games over the international break before arriving at United.
