Mauricio Pochettino and USMNT: What’s the problem with appointing him head coach?

Mauricio Pochettino looks set to become the next head coach of the US men’s national team, but his appointment is not an easy one.

Although the Argentine is out of work after leaving Chelsea in May, there are still more hurdles to clear before he can be formally confirmed in his new role.

So what is the delay and how quickly can things be resolved?

The Athletics has spoken to several sources with knowledge of the situation, all of whom asked to remain anonymous to protect their positions and due to the sensitivities surrounding the negotiations, to try to answer those questions.

What has happened so far?

US Soccer has been searching for a new head coach for the men’s national team since Gregg Berhalter was fired on July 10 after a disappointing performance in the Copa America.

A day later, The Athletics reported that US Soccer (USSF) had approached former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to gauge his interest in a takeover, after which the German politely declined the opportunity, saying he wanted to take a break from football.

Pochettino subsequently emerged as the governing body’s preferred candidate on Thursday The Athletics revealed that he had agreed to take on the role of head coach. Neither Pochettino nor the USSF have said anything publicly on the matter since the story broke.

Then why hasn’t the contract been signed?

The terms of Chelsea’s Pochettino severance package make things a little more complicated.

Pochettino left Chelsea for one year on a contract that originally lasted for two years, with an option for a third.

He has verbally committed to taking the USMNT job. Pochettino is free and clear to do that. Nothing in his Chelsea contract prevents that and club sources claim no money is due if he takes another position.

With national team roles typically paying less than their club equivalents, Chelsea are actively discussing possible solutions with Pochettino, including third-party sponsorship and other ways to make the situation financially viable for the Argentine.

His contract with Chelsea includes a ban from the top six Premier League clubs for just six months. Chelsea maintain a strong relationship with Pochettino – Laurence Stewart, their technical director, even sent the USSF a glowing reference for him – and are continuing dialogue with him to enable him to move forward with the USMNT opportunity.

Do we know what the USSF will pay Pochettino?

Pochettino’s proposed salary at US Soccer is not yet known, and – as reported above – how exactly this will net a former Premier League manager who has worked for some of Europe’s biggest clubs is a key question.

Pochettino may have had a disappointing season last year, even as Chelsea recovered from a poor start to finish sixth and qualify for the Europa Conference League, but he is still one of the most highly regarded coaches in the sport.

His CV includes stints at Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain, and he has been regularly linked with the manager’s job at Manchester United and high-profile roles in Spain.

Securing a coach of his caliber won’t come cheap, and his terms would certainly exceed those offered to Berhalter, who coached in Major League Soccer before taking the USMNT job for the first time.

According to USSF tax returns, it was reported by APIn 2022, Berhalter had a base salary of $1,391,136, and earned $900,000 in bonuses. By comparison, when Emma Hayes signed on as head coach of the women’s national team in November 2023, The Athletics reported that she would make almost $2 million a year.

US Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said after Berhalter’s dismissal that his search for a replacement would not be limited by finances. “I just want to get the best coach possible who can help the team win,” he said. “Whether they come from the US or somewhere else. Progress has been made, but now it’s time to turn that progress into victories.”

How could the USSF find the money?

The USSF will understand that hiring a head coach of Pochettino’s stature, especially in the run-up to the home World Cup, requires a bigger budget than they would normally consider. But it is also true that they cannot afford the kind of wages that a club in the Premier League’s top six could offer, and may have to get creative to absorb the cost of hiring Pochettino.

When Canada hired Jesse Marsch as its new men’s head coach in May, the deal was only made possible thanks to significant financial contributions from the country’s three Major League Soccer clubs: CF Montreal, Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps. The total amount donated to Canada Soccer was approximately $1.5 million. That meant Marsch’s official title became “MLS Canada Men’s National Team Head Coach.”

Marsch’s wages in Canada include help from MLS teams (Charly Tribelleau/AFP via Getty Images)

According to conversations The Athletics has had with American MLS club owners, there is no need for a similar arrangement with Pochettino and the USMNT at this stage.

An alternative route would be to bridge the gap through sponsors. There is also precedent for this: When Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, the transfer was made possible by the player being offered a revenue share with some of the MLS’s major partners, including Apple, Adidas and the apparel company Fanatics.

Exploring more such options – taking advantage of the global profile of their future head coach – seems a more likely route for the USSF to afford Pochettino.

Chelsea, who currently have no front-of-shirt sponsor for the new Premier League season, are trying to help facilitate this.

Will this be resolved – and if so, when?

It is expected that an agreement will be reached between all parties, as this is in everyone’s interest.

One possible outcome is that Chelsea pays the difference between what the USSF offers Pochettino and what the club would have to pay him if he remained out of work. In that scenario – which is not unusual in football – Chelsea would not have to pay the maximum amount they are liable for under the current Pochettino release deal, but he would still get the full amount he is owed.

The USSF hopes to finalize the deal within the next 48 hours, although that decision must be ratified at a board meeting. But that will probably be a formality.

The next USMNT matches are friendlies against Canada and New Zealand on September 7 and 10, respectively.

(Top Photos: Getty Images)