Mauricio Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino

Pochettino at Pepín Valls Stadium in Castellar del Vallès
Personal information
Full name	Mauricio Roberto Pochettino Trossero
Date of birth	(1972-03-02) 2 March 1972
Place of birth	Murphy, Argentina
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Centre back
Youth career
	Newell's Old Boys
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1989–1994	Newell's Old Boys	153	(8)
1994–2000	Espanyol	216	(11)
2001–2003	Paris Saint-Germain	70	(4)
2003–2004	Bordeaux	11	(1)
2004	→ Espanyol (loan)	21	(1)
2004–2006	Espanyol	38	(1)
Total		509	(26)
International career
1998–2002	Argentina	20	(2)
Managerial career
2009–2012	Espanyol
2013-	Southampton
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Template:Spanish name Mauricio Roberto Pochettino Trossero (born 2 March 1972) is an Argentine retired footballer who played as a central defender, and current manager of Southampton FC.

Over the course of ten seasons he amassed La Liga totals of 275 games and 13 goals for Espanyol, playing 17 years as a professional overall. He also played in France for two clubs, Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux.

An Argentine international in the late 90s/early 2000s, Pochettino represented the country at the 2002 World Cup and the 1999 Copa América.

Southampton Football Club has appointed Mauricio Pochettino as First Team Manager on the 18/01/13

Club career

Born in Murphy, Santa Fe, Pochettino started his professional career with Newell's Old Boys, moving to RCD Espanyol in Spain in 1994–95, as the Catalans had just returned to La Liga. He was an undisputed starter in his six 1/2 season spell, helping the club to the 2000 Copa del Rey.

In January 2001, Pochettino moved to Paris Saint-Germain FC. He was also a regular starter during his stay, and moved for 2003–04 to fellow Ligue 1 outfit FC Girondins de Bordeaux. However, he returned to Espanyol (initially on loan) midway through his first year for two 1/2 more seasons, still being regularly used except for his last one, and wrapping up his career at the age of 34 with another domestic cup; in his two spells combined, he appeared in nearly 300 official games for the club.

In late January 2009, Pochettino became Espanyol's third coach in 2008–09, with the side then ranking third from bottom, but eventually finishing the season comfortably placed (10th), after the coach inclusively asked for "divine intervention". He coached nine club players who were his teammates during his last season and, in early June, renewed his link for a further three years.

In the 2009–10 season, Pochettino once again led Espanyol to a comfortable league position, in a campaign where club symbol (and his former teammate) Raúl Tamudo fell completely out of favour in the squad's rotation, even more after the January 2010 arrival of manager compatriot Pablo Osvaldo.

On 28 September 2010 Pochettino extended his contract with the club for one more year, until 30 June 2012. On 26 November 2012, however, following a 0–2 home loss against Getafe CF that left the Pericos in the last place with just nine points from 13 matches, he was relieved of his duties.

International career

Pochettino played 20 times for Argentina during four years and was a participant at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, appearing in three complete matches as the nation exited in the group stage.

In the second game against England, Italian referee Pierluigi Collina saw him bring down Michael Owen in the box. The resulting penalty was converted by David Beckham, for the game's only goal.

Honours

Player

Newell's

• Argentine Primera División: 1990–91, Clausura 1992

Espanyol

• Copa del Rey: 1999–2000, 2005–06

External links

• Espanyol official profile
• BDFutbol player profile
• BDFutbol coach profile
• Mauricio Pochettino – French league stats at LFP – also available in French (archived)
• L'Équipe stats Template:Fr icon
• Mauricio Pochettino at National-Football-Teams.com
• Mauricio Pochettino – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Transfermarkt profile