Mauricio Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino

Pochettino as manager of Tottenham Hotspur in 2016
Personal information
Full name Mauricio Roberto Pochettino[1]
Date of birth (1972-03-02) 2 March 1972[1]
Place of birth Murphy, Argentina
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Playing position Centre-back
Club information
Current team
 Tottenham Hotspur (manager)
Youth career
Newell's Old Boys
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1994 Newell's Old Boys 153 (8)
1994–2000 Espanyol 216 (11)
2001–2003 Paris Saint-Germain 70 (4)
2003–2004 Bordeaux 11 (1)
2004 → Espanyol (loan) 21 (1)
2004–2006 Espanyol 38 (1)
Total 509 (26)
National team
1991 Argentina U20 3 (0)
1992 Argentina U23
1999–2002 Argentina 20 (2)
Teams managed
2009–2012 Espanyol
2013–2014 Southampton
2014– Tottenham Hotspur

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Mauricio Roberto Pochettino (Spanish pronunciation: [mauˈɾisjo potʃeˈtino], Italian: [poketˈtino]; born 2 March 1972) is an Argentine professional football coach and former player who is the current manager of Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

He spent 17 years as a professional player, ten of which were in La Liga with Espanyol where he scored 13 goals in 275 games.[2] He also played in France for two clubs, Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux, having started his career with Newell's Old Boys. An Argentine international for three years, he represented the country at the 2002 World Cup and the 1999 Copa América.

Pochettino began his managerial career at Espanyol in January 2009, remaining in the post for nearly four years. He then managed in the Premier League, first with Southampton, followed by Tottenham Hotspur.

Playing career

Club

Pochettino (left) playing for Espanyol in a veterans' match in 2011

Pochettino was born in Murphy, Santa Fe, Argentina. The son of a farm laborer, his first introduction to football was the 1978 FIFA World Cup, which he watched with his father at the local football club.[3] After being scouted by José Griffa and his future manager Marcelo Bielsa at age 14,[4] in 1987 he moved to the club with which he would begin his professional career as a central defender, Newell's Old Boys, making his debut in the Argentine Primera Division in 1988. There, his honours included the 1990–91 Argentine Primera División title as well as the 1992 Clausura. Bielsa eventually became Newell's manager during this time and his coaching methods and philosophy would have a significant impact on the young Pochettino.[5]

Newell's would eventually reach the final of the 1992 Copa Libertadores, with Pochettino scoring a crucial goal away to Colombian champions América in the semi-final. Aged 22, he then moved to Espanyol in Spain for the 1994–95 season as part of the intake of players accompanying the Catalans upon their return to La Liga.[6] He soon established himself as an automatic first-team starter during his six-and-a-half years at the club, helping them to the 2000 conquest of the Copa del Rey.[7] By then, he had developed a reputation as a tough, uncompromising central defender.[8]

In late January 2001, Pochettino signed for Paris Saint-Germain.[9] He was also a regular starter during his stay in Paris, and moved to fellow Ligue 1 side Bordeaux for the 2003–04 campaign. However, he returned to Espanyol, initially on loan before the move was made permanent,[10] midway through his first year[11] where he continued to play for two-and-a-half more seasons before wrapping up his career at age 34 with another Copa del Rey victory.[12]

International

In 1992, Pochettino played for the Argentine under-23 team at the CONMEBOL Men Pre-Olympic Tournament in Paraguay, which saw them fail to qualify for the 1992 Summer Olympics.[13] He gained 20 caps for the full side over a period of four years and played in all three of Argentina's matches at the 2002 World Cup,[14] where the Albiceleste exited at the group stage.

Pochettino's most newsworthy contribution to the tournament came during the second group stage game, against England, when Italian referee Pierluigi Collina awarded Argentina's opponents a penalty after Pochettino brought down England striker Michael Owen in the box. The resulting kick was converted by David Beckham for the match's only goal.[15]

Managerial career

Espanyol

Pochettino as manager of Espanyol in 2012

In late January 2009, Pochettino became Espanyol's third coach in 2008–09 after the sacking of José Manuel "Mané" Esnal, with the team third from bottom of the table.[16] Tasked with saving the club from relegation, he had just recently completed his UEFA Pro License and had spent a short spell as the assistant manager to the club's ladies' team but was otherwise untested as a coach.[17] His first match was at home to rivals Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, then managed by Pep Guardiola in his first season in charge. Despite his players' reluctance and only being able to avail of two training sessions prior to the game, Pochettino's system of high-pressing and one-on-one defensive cover yielded an unexpected 0–0 draw.[17] After Pochettino asked for "divine intervention"[18] to save the club, their fortunes improved and the team eventually finished the season comfortably mid-table with their most significant result being a 2–1 victory in the league derby against Barcelona, their first league victory at the Camp Nou for 27 years.[19] Pochettino won plaudits for the achievement and during his debut season coached nine players who were his teammates during his last year as a player with Espanyol. In early June 2009, renewed his contract for a further three years.

In 2009–10, Pochettino once again led Espanyol to a comfortable league position, in a campaign where club symbol (and his former teammate) Raúl Tamudo fell out of favour, particularly after the January 2010 arrival of the manager's compatriot Dani Osvaldo.[20] On 28 September 2010, he agreed to a one-year extension at the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat which ran until 30 June 2012,[21] and in May of the following year further renewed his contract until 2014.[22] On 26 November 2012, however, following a 0–2 home loss against Getafe that left Espanyol in last place with just nine points from 13 matches and with Pochettino complaining about the financial restrictions being placed upon him,[23] his contract was terminated by mutual consent at the end of that month.[24]

Despite the lowly league position, Pochettino's work had drawn praise from commentators[25] and he was beginning to display the characteristics that would inform his coaching at his subsequent clubs, namely the imposition of a specifical tactical style on all of the clubs' team from the senior side down to youth level, attending training sessions to receive updates from all levels of the club, a preference for 4–2–3–1, a focus on a high-pressing game and the promotion of players from the academy to the first team.[25]

Southampton

On 18 January 2013, Pochettino was announced as the new first-team manager of Premier League club Southampton,[26] replacing Nigel Adkins[27] and becoming the second Argentine manager in English football after Osvaldo Ardiles.[28] His first match in charge was five days later, a 0–0 draw against Everton at St Mary's Stadium.[29][30] He recorded his first win on 9 February, 3–1 at home over reigning champions Manchester City.[31]

Despite knowing English, Pochettino initially used a Spanish interpreter in press conferences as a way to fully express his views.[32] He led the Saints to notable victories against other top league sides, including a 3–1 home win over Liverpool[33] and a 2–1 success against Chelsea also at St Mary's.[34]

In his first full season at Southampton, Pochettino led the team to an eighth-spot finish, their highest league position since the 1989–90 campaign (a position they also reached in 2002–03), while also recording their highest points tally since the Premier League began in 1992–93.[35]

Tottenham Hotspur

On 27 May 2014, Pochettino was appointed head coach of Tottenham Hotspur on a five-year contract, becoming their 10th manager over a 12-year span.[36] The following 28 January, the team reached the final of the League Cup following a 3–2 aggregate win over Sheffield United, only to be beaten 2–0 by Chelsea in the decisive game at Wembley Stadium. In the domestic league, his first season was generally successful, ending in a fifth-placed finish and the conversion of several young academy graduates into regular first team players; he put one of those graduates, Harry Kane, as starting striker at the expense of Spanish international Roberto Soldado, a gamble which paid off[37] as Kane and his teammates Dele Alli and Eric Dier were touted as the potential basis for the England squad at UEFA Euro 2016.[38]

Tottenham were in contention to win the league in 2015–16, but on 2 May 2016 they drew 2–2 at Chelsea, handing the title to Leicester City. The game at Stamford Bridge saw Spurs receive a league record nine yellow cards, and Pochettino entered the pitch in the first half to separate his left back Danny Rose from a confrontation with Willian.[39]

On 12 May 2016, Pochettino agreed to an extension to his contract, committing him to the club until 2021.[40] It was also confirmed that his title had changed from that of "head coach" to "manager", although he confirmed that the role itself was no different.[41]

Managerial style

“Where did I get the idea we had to (press)? It’s about your personality, who you are. You show on the pitch who you are. If you are brave in your life, you cannot behave in a different way on the pitch. I don’t understand how to play in a different way. Always, be brave. I like to be brave.”

 — Pochettino on his coaching philosophy.[42]

Pochettino favours a very high-pressing, attacking style of football. He often employs a 4–2–3–1 formation at the clubs he manages. While doing so, he instructs his team to build from the back, intimidate and unsettle opponents with a quick press system and work the ball into the box.

Pochettino's team selection tends to include quick players with excellent stamina, likely due to those players having the attributes to excel in a high press system. He is also hailed by many pundits for his focus on developing local players from the clubs' youth academies.[43][44]

Career statistics

Club

[45]

Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Newell's Old Boys 1988–89 40–––40
1989–90 300–––300
1990–91 344–––344
1991–92 283–––283
1992–93 321–––321
1993–94 250–––250
Total 1538–––1538
Espanyol 1994–95 340–––340
1995–96 39390––483
1996–97 37360–40473
1997–98 352–––352
1998–99 260–––260
1999–2000 29170––361
2000–01 16220–60242
Total 21611240––10025011
Paris Saint-Germain 2000–01 7110––81
2001–02 2812020100421
2002–03 352–5151454
Total 7043071151956
Bordeaux 2003–04 11110–40161
Total 11110–40161
Espanyol 2003–04 211–––211
2004–05 271–––271
2005–06 11020–31161
Total 59220–31643
Career total 509263007132257829

International

[46]

Argentina
YearAppsGoals
199961
200020
200161
200260
Total202

International goals

Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 17 November 1999 La Cartuja, Seville, Spain  Spain 2–0 2–0 Friendly
2. 7 October 2001 Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay  Paraguay 1–1 2–2 2002 World Cup qualification

Managerial statistics

As of match played 3 December 2016
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
PWDLWin %
Espanyol 20 January 2009 26 November 2012 161 53 38 70 32.9 [16][24][47]
Southampton 18 January 2013 27 May 2014 60 23 18 19 38.3 [48]
Tottenham Hotspur 27 May 2014 Present 131 64 35 32 48.9 [48]
Total 352 140 91 121 39.8 —

Honours

Player

Newell's Old Boys
Espanyol

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Mauricio Roberto Pochettino". ESPN FC. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "Adiós y muchas gracias" [Farewell and many thanks] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 7 June 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "Mauricio Pochettino: The Argentine at Southampton with big plans". BBC. Retrieved 13 Oct 2016.
  4. ↑ "Mauricio Pochettino's road from Murphy to Southampton – via Espanyol". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 Oct 2016.
  5. ↑ "Son Heung-min sets tone as Tottenham put pressure on Manchester City". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 Sep 2016.
  6. ↑ "Mauricio Pochettino llega motivadísimo" [Mauricio Pochettino arrives all amped up] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 29 July 1994. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "Spain Cups 1999/2000". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  8. ↑ "Arsenal's Arsène Wenger ready for battle with Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 Sep 2016.
  9. ↑ "Pochettino: el PSG, posible puente para ir al Milan" [Pochettino: PSG, possible bridge to go to Milan] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 26 January 2001. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  10. ↑ "Pochettino bounces back again". UEFA. 22 June 2004. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  11. ↑ "Olímpico return for Pochettino". UEFA. 30 December 2003. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  12. 1 2 "Espanyol's Pochettino calls it quits". UEFA. 8 June 2006. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  13. ↑ "Argentina v Bolivia, 02 February 1992". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  14. ↑ "Mauricio Pochettino: I was in Cardiff for Argentina's fantastic win over Ireland". Irish Independent. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  15. ↑ "Owen and Butt lead the charge". BBC Sport. 7 June 2002. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
  16. 1 2 "Pochettino replaces luckless Mané at Espanyol". UEFA. 20 January 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  17. 1 2 "Mauricio Pochettino to face Guardiola as an equal in a rivalry born in Barcelona". The Guardian. 30 Sep 2016. Retrieved 6 Oct 2016.
  18. ↑ "It's the Sids 2009! The complete review of La Liga season". The Guardian. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  19. ↑ "Tottenham vs Manchester City: Mauricio Pochettino and Pep Guardiola's riveting rivalry resumes". The Independent. 30 Sep 2016. Retrieved 6 Oct 2016.
  20. ↑ "Mauricio Pochettino: "No guardo rencor a nadie"" [Mauricio Pochettino: "I hold no grudges"] (in Spanish). Terra. 16 December 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  21. ↑ "El Espanyol renueva a Pochettino" [Espanyol renews Pochettino]. Marca (in Spanish). 28 September 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
  22. ↑ "Pochettino renueva con el Espanyol hasta 2014" [Pochettino renews with Espanyol until 2014]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 1 May 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  23. ↑ "Who is Mauricio Pochettino?". The Independent. 18 Jan 2013. Retrieved 6 Oct 2016.
  24. 1 2 "Pochettino leaves RCD Espanyol". RCD Espanyol. 26 November 2012. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013.
  25. 1 2 "Espanyol indebted to Mauricio Pochettino as kids show their worth". The Guardian. 17 Jan 2011. Retrieved 6 Oct 2016.
  26. ↑ "New first team manager appointed". Southampton F.C. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  27. ↑ "Adkins sacked as Southampton boss". BBC Sport. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  28. ↑ "In the Mourinho mould: Pochettino's exciting brand of football will have Southampton fans purring". Goal.com. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  29. ↑ "Southampton 0–0 Everton". BBC Sport. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  30. ↑ Hassan, Nabil (21 January 2013). "Mauricio Pochettino impresses on tough Southampton debut". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  31. ↑ Bevan, Chris (9 February 2013). "Southampton 3–1 Manchester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  32. ↑ "Pochettino sticking with translator". Irish Independent. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  33. ↑ Sanghera, Mandeep (16 March 2013). "Southampton 3–1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  34. ↑ Johnston, Neil (30 March 2013). "Southampton 2–1 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  35. ↑ "Southampton's strides under Mauricio Pochettino shown by record Premier League points tally as Rickie Lambert strikes late at Swansea". Daily Mail. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  36. ↑ "Mauricio Pochettino: Tottenham appoint Southampton boss". BBC Sport. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  37. ↑ White, Jim (9 January 2015). "Harry Kane's incredible journey from Arsenal reject to Tottenham hero". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  38. ↑ Shergold, Adam (5 November 2015). "Tottenham's English axis of Eric Dier, Dele Alli and Harry Kane has potential... but Roy Hodgson has better options for the moment". Daily Mail. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  39. ↑ "Danny Rose: Tottenham defender apologises for ugly scenes at Chelsea". BBC Sport. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  40. ↑ "Mauricio Pochettino: Tottenham boss signs contract extension". BBC Sport. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  41. ↑ "Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham role hasn't changed despite new title". ESPN FC. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  42. ↑ "Mauricio Pochettino to face Guardiola as an equal in a rivalry born in Barcelona". The Guardian. 30 Sep 2016. Retrieved 6 Sep 2016.
  43. ↑ "In profile – Mauricio Pochettino". Southampton F.C. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  44. ↑ Figuera, Sophie (January 2014). "The reign of Mauricio Pochettino: One year on". Give Me Sport. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  45. ↑ "Mauricio Pochettino". Footballdatabase. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  46. ↑ Mauricio Pochettino at National-Football-Teams.com
  47. ↑ "Managers list of Espanyol: All". BDFutbol. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  48. 1 2 "Managers: Mauricio Pochettino". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  49. ↑ "Mauricio Pochettino excited by his mix of young and old at Tottenham". The Guardian. 5 February 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  50. ↑ "Pochettino wins Manager of the Month". Southampton F.C. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  51. ↑ "Pochettino wins Manager of the Month". Sky Sports. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  52. ↑ "Mauricio Pochettino named Barclays Premier League Manager of the Month for February after four straight Tottenham wins". Daily Mail. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.

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