Pochettino reveals he would have managed Spurs in the Championship and why he stayed with USA

Mauricio Pochettino has revealed he would have returned to manage Tottenham Hotspur even if the club had been playing in the Championship, but says the timing was wrong when they came calling last season — and that a transformative World Cup experience convinced him to extend his commitment to the United States national team until 2030.

Pochettino confirmed he was approached by Spurs during their relegation battle last season, shortly after Thomas Frank was sacked. He was unequivocal about his loyalty to the north London club. “Yes, of course. Tottenham? Yes, of course,” he said. “It’s the only club that always I am open to help. Whatever division. Another club, no. But Tottenham, yes.”

Despite that affection, Pochettino was quick to add context to the timing of the approach. “Yeah but in this moment they called everyone, they called all the coaches! Free and not free!” Tottenham subsequently went through a turbulent spell under Igor Tudor before appointing Roberto De Zerbi to lead their rebuild.

The Argentine, who spent five years at Spurs and remains a beloved figure among supporters, says his feelings toward the US role shifted dramatically during the World Cup. Working alongside trusted assistant Jesús Pérez, Pochettino guided the joint-host nation through their group and into the last 16, where they were eliminated by Belgium. The experience, he says, changed everything.

“One thing that changed our mind: the people,” Pochettino explained. “The human beings in the federation. Before the start of the World Cup we met the whole board in New York, and they offered us four more years. I said ‘yeah but if we lose all the games…’ But they said: ‘No, we trust in you, we trust in your job, we trust in your vision, in the way that you behave. You stayed here when it was possible to move somewhere else.’”

The reception from American fans during the tournament proved equally decisive. “The fans were amazing. The people were so excited. The players changed their mindset. After one week, the federation called and we said: ‘we are ready for it.’” He has since signed a contract extension through 2030.

Pochettino also offered a candid word of sympathy for former Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, who was recently ousted from the club. “I think he feels like [I did] when I was sacked! Now he knows the feeling,” he said. “I am sorry for him.”

In a further surprise, Pochettino did not rule out managing England one day — a remarkable admission given his Argentine heritage and the history between the two nations.