Former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino ‘agrees’ to take surprise international job

Former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to take up the role as the next coach of the US men’s national soccer team, according to a report.

The USA men’s team has been searching for a new head coach after axing Gregg Berhalter last month, following the team’s unexpected group-stage exit at the Copa America earlier this summer.

Pochettino, meanwhile, has been out of work since mutually agreeing to leave Chelsea at the end of the 2023-24 Premier League season.

During his single season at Stamford Bridge, he guided Chelsea to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, advanced to the FA Cup semi-final, and led the team to the EFL Cup final, where they were defeated by Liverpool.

The 52-year-old Argentine tactician received a £10m pay-off by the Blues at the end of his turbulent tenure, and it seems that he may have already found his next project.

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Pochettino set for first international management role

According to The Athletic, US Soccer’s technical director Matt Crocker had made Pochettino a top target for the head coaching position, and the Argentine has now agreed to take up the role as Berhalter’s replacement.

The report adds that negotiations between Pochettino and the USMNT hierarchy have been taking place for several weeks and are believed to be nearing a conclusion.

However, no details have emerged of the length of his contract or how much he will be paid if takes on the role as yet.

It is understood that US Soccer had also approached former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, but switched their focus to the Argentine after the German turned down the offer.

If Pochettino does take on the job, it would be his first international post, having previously managed Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain.

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England to continue search for next Three Lions manager

Pochettino was also rumoured to be on the shortlist to take up the England manager role after Gareth Southgate decided to step down last month.

Other names that have surfaced to succeed Southgate are Newcastle boss Eddie Howe and Graham Potter, who is still without a club since he left the Blues.

Howe has been rumoured to be the frontrunner for the position, having previously hinted that his future at St James’ Park would depend heavily on the assurances the club can provide him.

Lee Carsley, who led the England Under-21s to a European Championship title last summer, has been appointed to take charge of the Three Lions until a permanent replacement can be found.

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