Mauricio Pochettino was appointed as the manager of Tottenham Hotspur in May 2014. He quickly became a beloved figure among Spurs fans for his tactical nous and emphasis on youth development. Over the course of his tenure, Pochettino transformed Tottenham from a mid-table Premier League club to a genuine title contender.
However, Pochettino’s last 12 months in charge of Tottenham were marked by a downturn in form and several high-profile departures. After reaching the Champions League final in 2019, Spurs struggled to replicate that success the following season. The team struggled for consistency in the league and was knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16 by RB Leipzig.
Off the pitch, there were signs of unrest. Star midfielder Christian Eriksen had publicly expressed his desire to leave the club, while other key players such as Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld were nearing the end of their contracts. Pochettino himself had been linked with moves to Real Madrid and Manchester United, leading to speculation about his long-term future at Tottenham.
As the 2019-20 season got underway, it became clear that something was amiss at Tottenham. The team’s form was erratic, with wins against Manchester City and Southampton being offset by losses to Newcastle and Brighton. Eriksen eventually got his wish and was sold to Inter Milan in January, while Danny Rose was loaned to Newcastle and Kyle Walker-Peters was sold to Southampton.
Pochettino’s last game in charge of Tottenham was a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United in November 2019. The result left Spurs in 14th place in the Premier League, and it was announced the following day that Pochettino had been sacked.
Despite the disappointing end to his tenure at Tottenham, Pochettino remains one of the club’s most successful managers of the modern era. He oversaw the development of several young players who went on to become integral parts of the team, such as Harry Kane, Dele Alli, and Eric Dier. He also led Spurs to four consecutive top-four finishes in the Premier League and a memorable run to the Champions League final in 2019.
After leaving Tottenham, Pochettino took over as the manager of Paris Saint-Germain in January 2021. He led the French club to the semi-finals of the Champions League and won Ligue 1, he continues to be regarded as one of the best managers in world football.
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