Mauricio Pochettino Eyes Tottenham Return Amid Relegation Struggle

Ex-Spurs boss Mauricio linked to return

Mauricio Pochettino is linked with a return to Tottenham Hotspur amid their Premier League relegation battle. The Argentine coach has expressed his desire to return to English football and lead Spurs once again.

“I enjoyed my experience at PSG. But I had other options, which I shared with the club, but they chose not ‌to listen to any of them...”

Mauricio Pochettino, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea boss, is open about missing coaching in England and wanting to return to the Premier League. The 54-year-old Argentine is currently leading the US national team at the World Cup but has his sights set on a future return to English football, with Spurs being a potential destination.

Pochettino's contract with the USMNT expires after the World Cup, and he's been linked with a return to Tottenham, where he had a successful five-year stint from 2014 to 2019. He's admitted that the Premier League is the “ideal place” for a manager with a competitive spirit, citing the country's football culture and intense competition.

Tottenham Hotspur is on the hunt for a new permanent coach next season after parting ways with Thomas Frank in February and appointing Igor Tudor as interim manager. With the team struggling to avoid relegation, they're considering several candidates, including Roberto De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino, with De Zerbi's interest dependent on Spurs securing their Premier League status.

“I love the country, its culture, the football culture,” Pochettino said in an interview with ‌French newspaper L'Equipe.

“For anyone with a ⁠competitive spirit who wants ‌to measure themselves against others and test their abilities, it's the ideal place. You have to constantly give your best.”

Mauricio Pochettino's Premier League experience includes stints at Southampton, Tottenham, and Chelsea. His five-year tenure at Tottenham was particularly notable, with the team becoming regular top-four finishers and reaching the 2019 Champions League final.

After leaving Tottenham in 2019, Pochettino joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, but revealed he was approached by Spurs just six months into his Parisian tenure. He cited instability at PSG due to COVID-19 and club changes as factors in his decision-making.

“Not just Tottenham. Other very big clubs too. When that six-month season ended, there was a bit of, with the whole COVID situation, the club situation created instability,” he said.

“I enjoyed my experience at PSG. But I had other options, which I shared with the club, but they chose not ‌to listen to any of them.”

Day One. ✔️ pic.twitter.com/ZrTNr6aBL6

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 23, 2026

Mauricio Pochettino was indeed linked with a return to Tottenham last season after Ange Postecoglou was sacked, but he said at the time that a return wasn't realistic. Now, with Tottenham struggling to avoid relegation and only one point above the drop zone, Pochettino's name is back in the mix, especially given Igor Tudor's disappointing start with just one point from his first five league games.

🇺🇸 USA in ATL 🍑 pic.twitter.com/XovNvtFS00

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 24, 2026

Pochettino has expressed his love for English football and the Premier League, stating it's the “ideal place” for a manager with a competitive spirit. He's currently leading the US national team at the World Cup but has hinted at a possible return to club management, with Tottenham being a potential destination. However, any move would likely depend on Spurs avoiding relegation and the financial compensation fee for Pochettino's contract.