‘Pochettino’s US compensation means imminent Spurs return unlikely’
United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino had sections of his former club’s fanbase giddy with excitement last week after he declared his desire to one day return to Tottenham.
It isn’t a new concept, Pochettino has previously been clear in his wish to become Spurs head coach for a second period – but the current conjecture over incumbent Ange Postecoglou’s future has sharpened the issue.
The Argentine remains a hero among some of the regulars at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Joining in 2014, Pochettino led the team to second and third placed finishes in the Premier League and a Champions League final.
Photos of Pochettino sharing a coffee with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, that went viral on social media last week, served only to amplify affections among supporters who pine for his return.
The fact the photos are not recent, certainly not taken over the past 10 days, won’t quell the fervour.
Pochettino is under pressure in his current job. With a home World Cup in 2026 just 15 months away, his US side have lost consecutive Concacaf Nations League matches in the past week – beaten by Panama and Canada.
Yet, dig deeper and you realise the prospect of the 53-year-old returning to Spurs any time soon is hugely unlikely.
Huge compensation required
The United States Soccer Federation would be owed what has been described by a well-placed source as “one of the biggest financial compensation fees in football history” if Pochettino was to leave for Spurs – or any other team for that matter – before the next World Cup.
Chelsea’s £21m payment to Brighton to land Graham Potter after sacking Thomas Tuchel in 2022 and Bayern Munich’s £21m to RB Leipzig to pave the way for Julian Nagelsmann’s appointment in 2021 are, according to reports, ranked as the two largest managerial compensation packages in history.
Pochettino signed a two-year contract in September, with multiple reports stating he earns £4.6m a year.
However, it is understood the sum US Soccer would recoup if Pochettino leaves before next year’s tournament, which they are hosting along with Canada and Mexico, extends way beyond the his salary and much closer to the amount Chelsea and Bayern, respectively, paid to land Potter and Nagelsmann.
