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U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino confessed he "really loves" Tottenham Hotspur and will "one day" make his way back to the Premier League, though he stopped short of pinpointing north London as his ultimate destination.
The Argentine, who spent six seasons at Spurs, transitioned from club management to the international arena in September 2024 when he assumed charge of the Stars and Stripes. His tenure in the United States has been far from smooth sailing, and widespread speculation suggests his stint leading the USMNT will conclude once his contract runs out following the 2026 World Cup.
Pochettino himself has added fuel to such speculation, openly hinting at a possible return to Europe as reports connect him to Real Madrid and Tottenham—and he only intensified the chatter on the Stick to Football podcast.
When questioned about a potential Premier League comeback, the 54-year-old responded, "One day, yes because I really like England. I think my human profile and coach profile match very well with the Premier League and with the culture, the idea, the idiosyncrasy and the philosophy."
Pochettino, who also previously managed Chelsea, refrained from elaborating on which club he envisions for such a return, but his enthusiastic affection for Spurs certainly left the door ajar for the manager to reclaim his spot on the touchline at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ... provided they survive a nerve-wracking relegation battle.
Pochettino Breaks Silence on Spurs' Fall From Grace
One of the most talked-about storylines in the Premier League this season has been Tottenham's alarming slide down the standings. The club currently occupies 18th place with 34 points from 34 matches this campaign.
Spurs' managerial merry-go-round has cycled through Thomas Frank, Igor Tudor, and now Roberto De Zerbi as the club desperately attempts to climb to safety and avoid a shocking relegation. They trail 17th-place West Ham United by two points, yet still face fixtures against Aston Villa, Leeds United, Chelsea, and Everton to wrap up the season.
"It is really sad," Pochettino said regarding Tottenham's ongoing crisis. "I really love Tottenham; it's one of the most important parts of my life as a coach and in my personal life too. I can talk from my experience in Tottenham and what I can tell you for me it's one of the biggest clubs in the world.
"Tottenham is a massive club with a massive following."
Yet they could be relegated to England's second tier for the first time since 1977, a remarkable fall from grace given that Spurs finished runners-up in the 2016–17 season, reached the Champions League final in 2019, and claimed the Europa League title last season.
Is Pochettino the Answer to Tottenham's Woes?
The first two of those aforementioned achievements at Spurs came during Pochettino's tenure. The Argentine acknowledged that the squad "challenged" for silverware but ultimately "missed this last step."
There is, of course, an appealing scenario in which Pochettino returns to north London and steers the club back on course, guiding Tottenham back into the top four and putting their disastrous 2025–26 campaign firmly in the rearview mirror—much like Manchester United's remarkable revival under Michael Carrick, who has all but secured the Red Devils' Champions League return next season.
Yet the last time Pochettino managed Spurs, he had the likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min to propel the team to new heights. Now, there is a glaring absence of genuine match-winners in north London, and Pochettino's potential return would not instantly remedy that. After all, Europe's elite talents are hardly eager to sign for a club mired in such dysfunction.
Without meaningful improvements in recruitment, the club will likely continue to underperform relative to their former standards regardless of who stands on the touchline. Pochettino might perhaps accelerate the rebuilding process, but he is by no means a cure-all for a squad largely comprised of unproven players who struggle to win games, let alone compete for silverware.