Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to a deal to coach the United States men's national team, according to ESPN's Mark Ogden and The Athletic's David Ornstein.
.
Once former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager Jürgen Klopp made it clear he wasn't interested in the job, Pochettino became the biggest name that seemed a realistic target for U.S. Soccer.
Tottenham, Southampton and Espanyol in La Liga all overachieved with the Argentine coach on the touchline. While his PSG and Chelsea spells aren't remembered fondly, he's far from the first manager to succumb to what were wider issues with each club. In the case of the latter, a sixth-place finish was an encouraging finish given what he was up against.
Tactically, Pochettino has also drawn praise for a style that emphasizes pressing and going on the attack.
This hire isn't without risk, though.
As with Klopp, part of Pochettino's success is owed to how much he nurtured and developed young talent. The national team structure typically doesn't allow for a coach to have the same kind of impact because he isn't working with the players every day for months on end.
To an extent, the USMNT is a little like his last two stops as well.
Pochettino's arrival means the expectations will be higher than ever. It won't be enough for the U.S. to win; the team will have to do so emphatically and attractively.
Just think, we're only a few short months away from all of USMNT Twitter calling for Pochettino to be fired
