Liam Duckstein
Pochettino’s Premier League Nostalgia
2025/26England
Arsenal
Manchester City
Manchester UnitedMauricio Pochettino has expressed his longing for the Premier League, hinting at a potential return to the English top flight in the future. The former Tottenham manager, currently leading the United States as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup, has enjoyed three stints in the Premier League.
The 53-year-old managed Southampton, Tottenham, and Chelsea, guiding Spurs to the Champions League final in 2019. “The Premier League is the best league in the world,” Pochettino told BBC Sport. “Of course I am missing it. I am so happy in America but also thinking one day to come back to the Premier League. It’s the most competitive league.”
A Trophy-Less Tenure
Despite his success, Pochettino’s managerial career has been marked by a lack of silverware, aside from his time at Paris St-Germain, where he won Ligue 1 and the French Cup. His tenure at Tottenham saw him come agonizingly close to winning the Premier League and the Champions League.
“We were so close in Tottenham, we nearly touched it,” Pochettino admitted. “That is a thing that I would want to achieve.” He remains in contact with Daniel Levy, the former Tottenham executive chairman who sacked him. Levy’s departure from the club in September after 24 years came as a surprise to Pochettino.
“His legacy is there. It’s amazing what he did for the club,” Pochettino said. “My relationship always was good with him. During my period in Tottenham and after I left.”
Challenges in the USA
Pochettino’s current role as the head coach of the United States has not been without its challenges. He has won 11 of his 20 matches, but defeats to teams like Mexico, Panama, and Canada have drawn criticism. He has also faced issues around changing the culture and mindset of his players.
“The intensity is completely different,” Pochettino explained. “You need to arrive for a few days to prepare the game and play, prepare another game, play, and go back. After November, we are going to have three months until March to prepare another game.”
The United States have only reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup once, in 2002. Pochettino is working to change that, emphasizing the importance of football culture in the country.
“Players like Lionel Messi are helping the kids,” Pochettino said. “They now want to play also soccer. The motivation is massive.”
He added, “I think after one year we are making great progress. We are building [ideas] with people that the language of football is only one and it doesn’t care if you are American, Brazilian or English. Our football is [to] compete in the way that you need to compete, if you want to win.”