USMNT set to rival England for Mauricio Pochettino as ex-Chelsea boss emerges as top target

Mauricio Pochettino is drawing heavy interest from USMTN as he faces a tough decision over his next job.

According to The Athletic , Pochettino has emerged as a favorite for the vacant position with U.S. Soccer , with several sources familiar with the situation describing him as a "top target." But the former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea boss has also become a leading candidate to succeed Gareth Southgate as England manager.

Though Pochettino has never managed a national team, he's routinely achieved immense success and excelled in high-pressure situations at the club level. Over his career, he led Southampton to a top 10 finish in the Premier League in 2013, guided the Spurs to a Champions League final appearance in 2019 and helped Paris Saint-Germain secure a Ligue 1 title in 2022.

READ MORE: Soccer star Neymar 'slid into DMs' of Olympics swimmer who was 'kicked out' of Paris 2024
READ MORE: Christian Pulisic stars against Barcelona as frustrated U.S. fans finally see USMNT captain

During his sole tumultuous season in charge at Chelsea, Pochettino propelled the Blues to the League Cup and FA Cup final, all while finding himself in the middle of conflict between the club's fans and ownership.

It is claimed that Pochettino's camp and U.S. chiefs have already engaged in talks. The Argentine and U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker previously crossed paths at Southampton, when the latter was in charge of the Saints' academy. He later joined the FA in 2013.

The Stars and Stripes are also under immense pressure from American fans to sign a big-name boss after firing Gregg Berhalter on the heels of an uninspiring group-stage exit from the Copa America. Pochettino would certainly fit the bill, with nearly a decade of experience coaching in the Premier League

U.S. Soccer chief Crocker was willing to spend big on his next boss with Pochettino reportedly among the highest-paid coaches in world football.

"It's a really competitive market out there, salary-wise, and we have to be competitive to get the level of coach that I believe can take the program forward in terms of achieving the results that we want on the field," he said. "It's a priority. It's something we're prepared to invest in and something that we will be investing in."