Years earlier than teaching the U.S. males’s nationwide staff in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and earlier than managing among the greatest golf equipment in world soccer, Mauricio Pochettino was often known as “El Sheriff.”
Marshaling his space of the pitch with an aggressive and vocal presence, the previous central defender made a reputation for himself within the late Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s as a bodily and thundering enforcer. This daring character and imposing fashion was seen most prominently in Spain with Espanyol, the place Pochettino landed after being molded by the youth ranks of Newell’s Previous Boys.
By two separate stints that marked the start and finish of his taking part in profession overseas, the long-haired officer took command at Espanyol. Establishing himself as a captain for the staff that will go on to win two Copa del Rey titles, Pochettino showcased traits that paved the early foundations of his eventual and profitable pivot to teaching.
With ensuing managerial positions at illustrious golf equipment equivalent to Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur, the Argentine’s legacy within the sport is outlined by what he has carried out on the sidelines. With 2026 across the nook, that spotlight has been heightened to a different stage in his transfer to the wild west of North American soccer by way of his present place with the USMNT.
A lot has been mentioned concerning the 53-year-old based mostly solely on what he has carried out as a supervisor. Evaluation of his management, and the previous participant generally, tends to zero in on simply his teaching period.
So let’s change that.
With the intention to higher perceive Pochettino’s course of and mind-set as he prepares for the World Cup with the U.S., we should first additionally perceive him as a participant — particularly throughout his prolonged keep at Espanyol from 1994 to 2001 and 2004 to 2006. By conversations with ESPN, just a few of his former teammates on the Spanish membership opened up about Pochettino, his on-the-field character, his totally different character, his humorousness off the pitch and way more.
‘We noticed him as a frontrunner’
“He spoke quite a bit,” former Espanyol full again Grégory Vignal mentioned with fun. “Very typical South American man from Argentina … however he was actually good.”
Of the tales that have been shared, one of the vital widespread themes relating to Pochettino was simply how boisterous the assured defender was as a participant. And never simply yelling for the sake of yelling, however organizing, directing and advising all through apply periods or the 90-plus minutes of a match.
“His voice is the way in which he controls, how he calls for gamers, how we are able to transfer collectively, how we are able to assist one another,” mentioned Armando Sá, one other former member of the Espanyol backline. “He had a robust presence.”
For Sá, regardless that it did imply that the presence was a extremely persistent one, he felt reassurance at any time when the Argentine was on the sector with him.
“I felt very protected. I felt like somebody [was], each time in my ears, speaking, teaching me,” Sá mentioned. “‘Go left, left, shut the area, shut that, come down, go inside’ … all these communications on the sector have been very clear from him, you recognize? Excellent data.
“This made it simple if you play [like] that and one of many causes we received the Copa del Rey.”
Earlier than taking part in alongside one another at Espanyol, former midfielder Óscar García remembered Pochettino standing out when he first confronted him with Barcelona.
“He regarded like a frontrunner,” García mentioned. “Skilled, an aggressive defender.”
Praised as somebody who was additionally technically good on the ball, and respectful to gamers and workers at coaching, it is sensible as to why a lot of his teammates have fond reminiscences of Pochettino. His need to information a roster, coupled together with his personal ability set, made him an apparent candidate to be captain.
However was he at all times like this? Even from the start with Espanyol?
“In our first apply periods, you’ll be able to instantly discover that this child has one thing particular. I imply, he was instantly speaking, organizing,” mentioned Velko Iotov, a former Bulgaria worldwide, when reminiscing about Pochettino’s early days. “Instantly, all of the teammates noticed him as a frontrunner.”
Spanish classes and pranks off the sector
Described by Sá as “a unique beast, he is a unique animal” on the sector, what was Pochettino like when he did not have his cleats on?
“Actually, a unique man,” the previous Mozambique worldwide mentioned. “Calm, humorous, preferred to joke, he is sarcastic … he is a traditional man.”
When not a beast on the sector, his former teammates shared anecdotes concerning the humble determine he was off the sector, who was simple to befriend.
Iotov, who at one level was alone at Espanyol when his household was again residence, remembers Pochettino inviting him to dinners together with his family. Throughout these dinners and staff meals, he did not appear to thoughts that Iotov’s Spanish was very restricted, and used these moments to educate gamers outdoors of the confines of a coaching floor as nicely.
“Tenedor,” started one casual Spanish lesson after Pochettino held up a fork when sitting subsequent to Iotov.
One other Spanish lesson additionally displayed Pochettino’s humorousness. Throughout a bus journey, the defender was strolling previous Vignal and observed that the French-born participant on mortgage from Liverpool was practising his Spanish. Pochettino counseled his efforts, but additionally gave him his personal homework.
“He taught me one or two dangerous phrases to ensure I perceive correctly the language,” Vignal joked.
The present USMNT coach later performed a prank that Vignal remembers to this present day. New to the Barcelona space the place Espanyol are based mostly, Vignal needed to take his girlfriend out to dinner and reached out to Pochettino, who advisable a spot referred to as La Dama.
“It was a lovely restaurant, however he by no means instructed me it was actually, actually costly,” Vignal mentioned with a giant giggle. “I feel he did that on objective.”
On the restaurant’s web site, it describes itself because the “epitome of eclectic sophistication.” One overview on TripAdvisor reads: “We knew it could be costly, however did not suppose it could be that costly.”
Vignal had a pleasant meal, however when receiving the invoice: “Wow!”
At coaching the subsequent day, Pochettino approached him with a smile and requested him if he loved the expertise. “Yeah, I additionally loved the invoice,” Vignal mentioned.
An surprising pivot to teaching
Regardless of displaying the traits of a profitable coach in his taking part in days, one other theme that emerged from the conversations together with his teammates was their shock that Pochettino grew to become a supervisor. If he had targets of being a coach someday, there was no indication that it was one thing he overtly talked about.
“You by no means know and he by no means mentioned something about it,” mentioned García when requested if he might inform that the Espanyol captain would someday lead on the sidelines. “However he’s having an excellent teaching profession.”
Vignal agreed.
“[He had] the traits [of a coach], in fact, however generally you by no means count on such a participant or ex-player to change into a coach or supervisor … however he had the profile,” the previous France youth worldwide mentioned.
There was undeniably a way of pleasure amongst his teammates when opening up about what Pochettino has completed since changing into a supervisor after his 2006 retirement as a participant.
With PSG, Pochettino lifted a Ligue 1 title and Coupe de France, whereas ending as a semifinalist within the UEFA Champions League. Over at Chelsea, he pushed them to a Carabao Cup ultimate and an FA Cup semifinal. With Tottenham, he helped the staff qualify for a Champions League ultimate for the primary and solely time in membership historical past.
“I am very joyful for his profession and really joyful for what he is achieved now,” mentioned Sá, who hopes to someday work with Pochettino once more, however as a coach. “I feel he is doing a very good job. It is not simple.”
What may very well be simple is absolutely shifting on previous his days as “El Sheriff.” The eye and fame he has gained as a supervisor exceeds what he did on the sector, even though Pochettino represented Argentina by way of 20 caps and a 2002 World Cup look.
All that mentioned, relying on who you ask, that Sheriff continues to be inside the USMNT coach.
In his earlier teaching run with Chelsea in the course of the 2023-2024 season, Pochettino was main a preseason tour within the U.S. that took the staff by way of Atlanta. At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the place the Premier League membership was coaching, a gaggle of visitors watched the apply session from afar.
Unknown to Pochettino, Iotov was amongst that group. “Poche!” yelled the director of the native United Futbol Academy, considering there was no manner Pochettino was going to acknowledge him years after final seeing one another and amongst a random assortment of individuals watching the coaching. “Velko!” Pochettino yelled again. He rushed over and “jumped” on Iotov.
“Folks checked out me and mentioned, ‘Who the heck are you?'” Iotov, a 1994 World Cup semifinalist, mentioned.
Not watching from afar, Pochettino introduced Iotov onto the sector in the course of the coaching. Later within the locker room, together with members of his teaching workers, they caught up for about an hour and a half. Pochettino was working late, with the bus prepared to depart the stadium, however he did not care.
“Oh, they’ll wait,” Pochettino mentioned to Iotov, talkative as ever, as if nothing had modified for the previous stalwart Espanyol determine who’s now commanding a unique position.