Four clubs that could target Mauricio Pochettino

*Since this article was published Mauricio Pochettino's exit from PSG has been confirmed*

Mauricio Pochettino is all set to leave PSG after 18 months in charge, with Christophe Galtier expected to replace him at the Parc des Princes.

Pochettino waltzed to the league title last season by a 15-point margin and won a couple of domestic cups during his tenure, but similarly to the likes of Thomas Tuchel, Unai Emery, and Carlo Ancelotti, he failed to crack the Champions League code.

However, on a positive note, Pochettino and his staff could receive a pay-off up to €20m (Telegraph), while those aforementioned trio of managers haven’t exactly done badly since leaving Paris: Ancelotti has bagged two more Champions league trophies, Tuchel has tasted both European and World glory, while Emery led Villarreal to a Europa League triumph followed by a Champions League semi-final.

A manager of Pochettino’s profile and talent will not exactly be short of offers. But where - and when - will he pop up next?

Newcastle

Re-joining the Premier League elite and it’s array of mega managers will surely be top of Pochettino’s agenda. Make no mistake about, he’ll be the favourite as soon as a top job opens up.

Pochettino was overlooked by Man Utd in favour of Erik ten Hag, so we can rule that one out. Jurgen Klopp has just extended his Liverpool contract to 2026, as has Mikel Arteta at Arsenal (2025). 

Pep Guardiola’s deal expires next summer so there could potentially be an opening at Man City although the Spaniard is expected to sign an extension. Unless there’s a shock twist, Antonio Conte is staying at Spurs. 

The life-span of a Chelsea manager is pretty short coupled with the new ownership means that the future of Thomas Tuchel could be worth keeping an eye on. Yet, the German has handled himself admirably during a difficult period, meaning it would be a shock if he was to leave anytime soon.

Pochettino’s Premier League Record…

• Games: 256
• Wins: 132
• Draws: 61
• Defeats: 63

The Premier League club that intrigues me the most when it comes to Pochettino’s next move is Newcastle.

First of all, incumbent Eddie Howe has done a brilliant job since replacing Steve Bruce; re-connecting the club with the fans, improving players, and making some shrewd signings. His impact was recognised in the form of a Manager of the Year nomination.

But while he’s made his mark, Howe knows that he must elevate the Toon to new heights. A brilliant coach yet time will tell if he can operate efficiently and effectively at a higher level with increased pressure and expectation.

Given Newcastle's wealth and ambition, any future job opener will appeal to an assortment of managers, including a certain Argentinian who previously spent over a year out of work before he became PSG manager, and we could see something similar as he considers his next opportunity.

Juventus

One team on the continent that will be worth monitoring next season is Juventus.

The Old Lady remain in a transition period under Max Allegri who enters into the second season of his second spell. The Italian, who finished 4th and trophyless last season, will be expected to mount a title challenge next term. A slow start could see the pressure gauge significantly ramp up.

Pochettino was linked to the club in 2020 after Maurizio Sarri departed, only for the Italian giants to surprisingly opt for rookie boss Andrea Pirlo. Expect Pochettino to be a leading candidate should Allegri fall short of expectations. “I think Juventus is a top club, a massive club,” he said in the past.

Real Madrid

Now over to Spain, where Pochettino previously managed Espanyol. He’s frequently linked with a move to Real Madrid and would surely have been the No.1 candidate should Carlo Ancelotti have left this summer. 

However, the manager with the best eyebrow in football is fresh off a stunning La Liga and Champions League double, so he’s going absolutely nowhere…for now. 

No manager is ever truely safe at the Bernabeu, so stay tuned. As much as we love Ancelotti, at some point over the next season he’s likely to come under pressure. If Real decide a change is needed Pochettino could prove to be the ideal candidate to oversee a new era; he's currently the 6/4 favourite in the betting.

If Diego Simeone ever left Atletico Madrid, then expect Pochettino to feature in the conversation, and similarly if Julen Lopetegui departed Sevilla.

As for La Liga vacancies right now, Athletic Bilbao are searching for a new manager following the exit of Marcelino. Bilbao finished 8th last season and won’t be involved in European competition next season, although the club’s ​​potential new president Ricardo Barkala - if successful - reportedly wants Ramon Planes as his new sporting director, with Planes previously working with Pochettino at Spurs and Espanyol.

International management

With the fourth option we’ve cheated a little. Instead of throwing forward one international team, we’ve listed a handful.

Pochettino was trending on Twitter following England’s heavy 4-0 defeat to Hungary on Tuesday night. His odds to become the next Three Lions manager were subsequently slashed from 66/1 to as short as 6/1 - best-priced 10/1 with Paddy Power.

Realistically speaking, there’s no chance England sack Southgate before the World Cup, but while he’s done a fantastic job in major tournaments to date, a disappointing showing in Qatar on the back of England’s Nations League nightmare could see the FA adopt a fresh approach in the New Year.

As for international managers whose contracts expire straight after the 2022 World Cup, there are plenty of jobs potentially up for grabs in the near future: there’s Didier Deschamps at France - a job PSG-linked Zidane is believed to be patiently waiting for - Roberto Martinez (Belgium), Luis Enrique (Spain), Louis van Gaal (Netherlands), and Tite at Brazil. 

Of particular interest to poch could be the future of Lionel Scaloni at Argentina with his contract due to end in December, although given the impressive job the Copa America winning manager has done since stepping into La Albiceleste job in 2018 it would be a surprise if he left.