Why Mauricio Pochettino Got the Job as New Manager of PSG

 

Mauricio Pochettino has been appointed manager of Paris St-Germain on a one-and-a-half-year contract the Ligue 1 club announced on Saturday.

The former Southampton and Tottenham boss, 48, succeeds German Thomas Tuchel, who was sacked on 29 December after two and a half years in charge and four months after he led PSG to the Champions League final.

Pochettino played for PSG between 2001 and 2003 as a centre-back and club captain and made 95 appearances scoring 6 goals.

The Argentine has been out of work since being sacked by Spurs in November 2019.

“Paris Saint-Germain is pleased to announce the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as its new head coach. The Argentine has signed a contract with the club from the French capital until 30 June 2022, with an option for an extra year,” a statement on the club’s website read.

PSG are third in Ligue 1 and will face Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League in February and March.

Pochettino started his career at Newell’s Old Boys in his native Argentina, before moving to Europe to play for Espanyol FC and then Paris Saint-Germain. Born in Murphy, Argentina, he won 20 caps and scored 2 goals for his country.

After retiring from playing, Pochettino began his coaching career at Espanyol FC between 2009 and 2012, before managing in England with a spell from 2013 to 2014 at Southampton and then at Tottenham Hotspur from 2014 until 2019.

“As Spurs manager Pochettino showed a real talent for managing top-level players with his passion and his ambitious vision of football, taking the Lilywhites to their first-ever Champions League final in the 2018/19 season,” the statement added

Pochettino took his first training session on Sunday. 

He said he was “happy and honoured” to take on the role and that the club “has always held a special place in my heart”.

“I return to the club today with a lot of ambition and humility, and am eager to work with some of the world’s most talented players,” said Pochettino.

“This team has fantastic potential and my staff and I will do everything we can to get the best for Paris St-Germain in all competitions. We will also do our utmost to give our team the combative and attacking playing identity that Parisian fans have always loved.”