Mauricio Pochettino

Despite spending his 17-year playing career in Argentina, Spain, and France, Mauricio Pochettino has arguably found his niche as a manager in the English Premier League. Having guided Southampton to their highest league finish in years and their highest Premier points total, he moved to Tottenham Hotspur, whom he took to the final of the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history. He has developed a reputation for developing homegrown talent, with many of his young players becoming mainstays of the English national team.

Pochettino was born in Argentina and began his professional career as a centre-back with Primera Division side Newell’s Old Boys in 1989, winning the league with them in his second season. A desire to live in Barcelona led him to join the city’s Espanyol club in 1994. He became deeply loyal to the club, staying there for six years and helping them to win the 2000 Copa del Rey, their first major trophy in six decades. He left for major French club Paris Saint Germain and also played for Bordeaux before returning to finish his playing career with Espanyol.

After studying to become a manager and coach, Pochettino took charge of Espanyol in 2009 when the team were in trouble. He guided them not only to safety but also their first derby win against Barcelona at the Camp Nou for nearly 30 years. In his four years at the helm, he gained a reputation for a pressing style of play and emphasis on youth development. In 2013, he moved to England and Southampton. He immediately endeared himself to fans, guiding the Saints to the League Cup final, a fifth-place finish and giving a first-team break to future England star Harry Kane.