Why is Mauricio Pochettino taking USMNT job? Examining his impending move to USA soccer from elite club level

The Argentine is expected to leave the club game for an international job, and it may make sense for a variety of reasons

Suppose that Mauricio Pochettino had demurred when U.S. Soccer came knocking, a polite thanks but no thanks at the prospect of leading out the hosts at the 2026 World Cup. What alternative career paths might the next two years hold? In the short term, likely a more extended spell of unemployment, downtime for a coach who endured a gruelling season at the Chelsea helm.

Hold his nerve, however, and the sort of top-level coaching roles he has occupied since he made Tottenham into that sort of job would surely have become available. Bayern Munich's reputation for competence and patience in the dugout is being steadily shattered, is it hard to believe that Vincent Kompany, fresh from taking Burnley down to the Championship, might not have the lengthiest of tenures? It is only eight years ago that Sir Alex Ferguson all but named Pochettino the heir apparent at Old Trafford. Given the decent odds that Manchester United will need to make a midseason hire, the Argentine would surely have been in the mix. Add potential vacancies in Italy to the mix and it might not have been a long wait for a big job to emerge.

After all, there is hardly a free-agent coaching class right now teeming with options. Jurgen Klopp has very publicly taken himself out of the market and Xavi is untested outside the extremely trying conditions in Barcelona. Thomas Tuchel is inarguably the best immediately available coach. After him, Pochettino is surely the sort who big clubs would have no fear of turning to in a pinch. If nothing else, his time at Chelsea enhanced his stature. Trying circumstances, an ever-changing squad and a raft of injuries were still translated into a points tally 19 better than the previous season and a run to Wembley in both domestic cups.