What job should Mauricio Pochettino take next?

Mauricio Pochettino was dismissed as Tottenham manager during the international break after five very successful years at the north London club.

Despite not having won a trophy, Pochettino helped Spurs establish themselves in the Champions League, a competition they reached the final of last season, and secured four consecutive top four finishes including a second place 2017. Spurs also became renowned for their high intensity style under Pochettino, with Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Eric Dier all emerging as England internationals during his reign.

However, with a number of contract issues affecting motivation within the group and a lack of backing in the transfer window, Spurs’ form has slumped in the league in 2019 and they had only managed three Premier League wins in the first 12 matches of the new season when he was dismissed.

Nonetheless, Pochettino remains a highly sought after coach and with a number of big clubs on the lookout, the Argentinian will have the pick of some of the most lucrative and exciting jobs in Europe.

Firstly, within the Premier League, both Arsenal and Manchester United are potential destinations although both have obvious pitfalls. Arsenal of course are Spurs bitter rivals and Pochettino has stated in the past that he would rather work as a farmer than manage the Gunners.

If he were to take the job it would likely cause huge damage to his reputation at White Hart Lane and perhaps even damage his credibility among neutrals. In a similar manner to Spurs, Arsenal are also pretty prudent when it comes to the transfer window and Pochettino might be minded to avoid having his hands tied to such an extent when looking to recruit new players.

However, Arsenal remains a massive club with huge potential, and a talented if dysfunctional and incomplete group of players. Arsenal are known for their inactivity and a coach with the strength of personality and charisma of Pochettino would certainly go someway to filling the Arsene Wenger shaped hole on the touchline at the Emirates Stadium. It remains an unlikely scenario that Pochettino rocks up at Arsenal, but there are reasons it would be a role worth considering.

The other potential Premier League job Pochettino will be considering is Manchester United. Of course, the most successful club in English football has the pull to attract most players and coaches, while the opportunity to return the sleeping giant to its former glories will be very appealing.

The main issue at this point though is that United look happy to stick with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager, despite the team’s obvious struggles. Solksjaer is a club legend and likely to afforded more time, especially when the squad’s weaknesses are so evident. Therefore, if Pochettino is looking for an immediate return to management, United is not an option.

Another potential issue with the United role is the presence of Ed Woodward. Looming over the club like a storm cloud, Woodward has been widely mocked for his poor approach to the transfer window and lack of knowledge about the sport. Pochettino must have been scarred by his experiences in the transfer window with Spurs and therefore, it would be understandable if would prefer to give Woodward a wide berth.

Outside the Premier League, the jobs that could appeal to Pochettino include Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona. As a former Espanyol player, Barcelona presents many of the same obstacles that Arsenal does, with Pochettino previously outspoken about how much loyalty means to him. However, the Barcelona job is hard to turn down and the opportunity to work with the Blaugrana’s array of talent certainly has its appeal.

Barcelona may be currently sat at the top of La Liga, but Ernesto Valverde remains under pressure for the style of play he favours and his relative failure in the Champions League. Unless things turn sour quickly for Valverde though, it is unlikely he will be deposed until the end of the season.

Real Madrid are in a similar situation with Zinedine Zidane, who may lack the tactical nous to see the same levels of success in his second spell as manager. Real are level on points with Barcelona and will not hesitate to make a change if performances and results turn bad, so this is a job that could become available very quickly. However, if anyone is likely to be granted additional time at Real Madrid, it is Zidane and if Pochettino wants to make a return to management mid-season, he may need to look elsewhere.

Finally, Bayern Munich is an option for Pochettino. Nico Kovac was sacked off the back of a 5-1 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt and a poor start to the season, with Hans-Dieter Flick being appointed in the interim. Bayern are in the unfamiliar territory of fourth spot in the Bundesliga, but certainly have the resources and talent to deliver the trophies that Pochettino desires. The Bayern job would also be available immediately and the Bavarian club are thought to be admirers. On the balance of things, it really appears to be Pochettino’s best option, however, as a coach so highly sought after the decision will likely come down to his own personal preference.