If you are a fan of English football, you might be wondering who will be the next manager of the national team after Gareth Southgate’s departure. One of the names that has been linked with the job is Mauricio Pochettino, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain boss who is currently out of work.
But who is Mauricio Pochettino and what are his strengths and weaknesses as a potential England manager? In this article, I will try to answer these questions by looking at his life and career so far.
Mauricio Pochettino was born on 2 March 1972 in Murphy, Argentina, a small town in the province of Santa Fe. He grew up playing football and volleyball, and also learned judo. He supported Racing Club de Avellaneda as a child and watched the 1978 World Cup with his father at the local sports club.
He started his professional career as a centre-back for Newell’s Old Boys, where he won a league title and reached the final of the Copa Libertadores in 1992. He then moved to Spain, where he spent most of his playing days with Espanyol, winning two Copa del Rey trophies. He also had spells with Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux in France, before returning to Espanyol for his final years as a player.
He earned 20 caps for Argentina and played at the 1999 Copa América and the 2002 World Cup, where he conceded a controversial penalty against England that led to David Beckham’s winning goal.
He retired as a player in 2006 and became a manager in 2009, taking charge of Espanyol. He impressed with his style of play and his ability to develop young players, but left the club in 2012 due to financial difficulties.
He then moved to England, where he took over Southampton in 2013. He led them to an eighth-place finish in his first full season, their highest ever in the Premier League. He also improved players like Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw, Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez, who went on to play for England.
In 2014, he joined Tottenham Hotspur, where he transformed them into one of the best teams in England and Europe. He guided them to four consecutive top-four finishes in the Premier League, their first ever Champions League final in 2019, and their first trophy since 2008 with the League Cup in 2020. He also nurtured talents like Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Son Heung-min and Christian Eriksen.
However, he was sacked by Tottenham in November 2020 after a poor start to the season and amid rumours of unrest in the dressing room. He then joined Paris Saint-Germain in January 2021, where he won the Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France in his first season. He also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, where he lost to Manchester City.
He left PSG by mutual consent in December 2021 after failing to agree on a contract extension. He has been linked with several clubs since then, including Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid. However, he has also expressed his interest in managing England one day.
So what are his strengths and weaknesses as a potential England manager?
One of his strengths is his tactical flexibility and adaptability. He can play different formations and styles depending on the opposition and the players available. He likes his teams to play with high intensity, pressing, possession and attacking flair. He can also switch to a more pragmatic approach when needed.
Another strength is his man-management and motivational skills. He can create a strong bond with his players and get the best out of them. He can also handle big egos and personalities without losing authority or respect. He is known for being honest, humble and passionate about his job.
A third strength is his experience and success at different levels and leagues. He has managed in Spain, England and France, facing different challenges and expectations. He has also competed against some of the best managers and teams in Europe, such as Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid.
One of his weaknesses is his lack of silverware compared to other top managers. Despite reaching several finals and semi-finals, he has only won three trophies as a manager: two Copa del Rey with Espanyol and one Ligue 1 with PSG. Some critics have accused him of being unable to win the big games or deliver under pressure.
Another weakness is his tendency to fall out with club