The time of Mauricio Pochettino’s exile appears to be coming to an end. Additionally, a career that has felt like it would stagnate could get the boost it needs.
The former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain manager is generally anticipated to take over at Chelsea after taking a year off from football. There, he would have the chance to fulfill a fierce desire to win the English Premier League and, in doing so, solidify his place among the sport’s top coaches.
Pochettino may have wasted his chance to land one of the best jobs in Europe, it seemed at times over the past year.
He only left PSG this summer, having won the French league and put to rest a persistent doubt about his ability to win significant trophies that had dogged his career.
But as part of a turnaround at Old Trafford at the close of the previous campaign, Manchester United chose Erik ten Hag. Following Thomas Tuchel’s resignation a few months later, Chelsea went to Graham Potter, indicating a movement toward a new generation of head managers.
Despite Pochettino’s continued iconic reputation among its supporters, even his old club, Tottenham, has constantly searched elsewhere for solutions after his departure in 2019.
The 51-year-old Argentinean appeared to be out of options to advance his career after being repeatedly connected with United and Real Madrid over the previous five years.
It’s not that there wasn’t any interest; it’s been reported that a significant portion of the Premier League has given him some thought. It’s just that there aren’t many clubs that could give him the chance to contend for football’s top honors and maintain the upward trajectory of his résumé.
For instance, Pep Guardiola’s career has seen him play for teams like Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City, each of which had the tradition and/or financial means to allow him to succeed in Spain, Germany, and England, respectively.
One giant after another has been knocked out by Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti, who occasionally visit their old teams to emphasize the dearth of truly top teams available.
By the time Pochettino got the chance at PSG, Tottenham had become a championship challenger and a finalist in the Champions League after Pochettino had taken Southampton from the bottom of the Premier League.
He won the league and cup there but was unable to stop the French juggernaut from pursuing the Champions League, adding his name to an ever-growing list of coaches who have failed in that regard.
Considering how much the Manchester club had long liked him, United appeared to be the best move, but Ten Hag was given the position.
Meanwhile, Ancelotti had recently guided Real Madrid to a 14th European Cup and the Spanish championship, so another position that had long seemed to bear his name was also out of the question.
It was tough to predict Pochettino’s future step when Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola signed new contracts with Liverpool and City, respectively, and Potter joined Chelsea.
He therefore waited because he had nothing to do.
He visited his residences in Barcelona and London while on a family trip to Tokyo. He never lost sight of his importance or his position in the game throughout his sabbatical.
He has overseen the careers of some of the top players in the world, including Harry Kane, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi.
Even though he finished without a trophy, he is revered by Tottenham fans for elevating the club to the top of Europe. Along with winning championships at PSG, he was one of just two coaches in the club’s history to get past the Champions League quarterfinals, making it to the semifinals in 2021.
These are not little accomplishments, but Pochettino has ambitious goals that will only be attained with a club of this caliber.
Chelsea won’t play any European football next season, but it is used to winning the highest awards; it most recently won the Champions League in 2021.
