Mauricio Pochettino would be open to a return to Tottenham Hotspur even if they get relegated to the Championship, GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs has revealed.
The north London club are set to be on the lookout for a new permanent manager after the season and are believed to have included Pochettino, as well as former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi and ex-striker Robbie Keane, on their shortlist.
With Igor Tudor tasked to steer Spurs out of the relegation battle, the Croatian tactician is highly unlikely to remain in the job beyond the season, no matter the outcome.
Pochettino’s contract with the United States only runs until the end of this year’s World Cup, and the Argentine has recently revealed he is ‘open to everything’ when discussing his next role.
Pochettino Open to Tottenham Return
Jacobs, speaking exclusively on GIVEMESPORT’s YouTube channel, revealed that Pochettino would be open to a Tottenham return even in the event of relegation, although affording his wage could prove difficult at that point:
“The good news for Tottenham fans is that, I’m told, Pochettino is open to returning, and would not necessarily be put off even if Spurs got relegated to the Championship.
“But if they were a Championship club, they’ve obviously got to be able to still afford Maurizio Pochettino’s wage, which wouldn’t necessarily drop significantly.”
Pochettino initially took charge of Tottenham in 2014 and led the club to the 2019 Champions League final.
Spurs also finished second in the Premier League under the Argentine in 2016/17 – their highest top-flight position in over 50 years.
The north London club’s lowest finish under Pochettino was sixth in the 2014/15 season, his first year in charge.
Pochettino’s Career After Tottenham
Pochettino was relieved of his duties at Tottenham in November 2019 after winning just five of his first 17 games of the season.
The 'world-class' 54-year-old returned to management in January 2021, when he took charge of Paris Saint-Germain, winning the Ligue 1 title and the French Cup during his 18-month stint at Parc des Princes.
Pochettino oversaw an even shorter tenure at Chelsea, managing the club for just 51 games during the 2023/24 season and winning 27 times.
The Argentine took charge of the United States in September 2024 and has won 14 of his 22 matches so far, including a 2-1 defeat to Mexico in the Gold Cup final in July last year.
Should Tottenham Re-Hire Pochettino?
Amid Spurs’ interest in re-hiring Pochettino, we asked ChatGPT whether the Argentine would be a good fit for the club in the current circumstances: