MIAMI: Mauricio Pochettino has been appointed as the new manager of the United States (US) national squad, announced the governing body of US soccer.
The former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Espanyol manager replaces Gregg Berhalter who was sacked in July after a disappointing Copa America campaign.
Pochettino is the biggest name in charge of the squad and the first foreign coach since German football legend Jurgen Klinsmann, who was sacked in 2016.
Pochettino, 52, has been unemployed since leaving Chelsea in May after just one season in charge of the Premier League club.
Details of his contract have not been disclosed, but Pochettino will lead the US to the 2026 World Cup which the country is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.
The Argentinian manager, who managed big names such as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe while at Paris Saint-Germain, is looking forward to getting started with his new team.
“The decision to join the US is not only about football for me; it is about the journey that the team and this country will go through.
“The energy, enthusiasm and determination to achieve something historic here – inspires me. Such an opportunity is hard to turn down.
“I see a group of talented and potential players, together we will build something special and something to be proud of,” said Pochettino.
Pochettino inherits a young squad that reached the last 16 at the Qatar World Cup in 2022, losing to the Netherlands at that stage.