It was a surprise when Mauricio Pochettino was appointed the manager of the USMNT. He had managed some of the top clubs in Europe at Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain. Therefore, it was a surprise that his next destination was to manage a country where soccer is not the number one sport.
Of course, the United States is co-hosting the World Cup this summer, so Pochettino has the opportunity to really grow the sport in the country this summer. The USMNT is not expected to get to the latter stages of the competition. Also, Pochettino will likely leave the role after the tournament and return to a top European club.
USMNT fans will already be thinking about who could replace the Argentine if he leaves after the tournament.
3 way-too-early predictions for Mauricio Pochettino's replacement as USMNT head coach
Pellegrino Materazzo
Supporters often like a player who is from their country to manage their national team. Pellegrino Materazzo is from New Jersey, played American sports growing up, including basketball as well as soccer. He went to Columbia University, where he played for the Columbia Lions. Therefore, he knows what the sport is like in the United States, which would be an asset if he were to become the head coach of the USMNT.
After graduating from Columbia with a degree in applied mathematics, Materazzo decided to head to Europe to pursue a soccer career. He went on trial at Italian clubs before joining Eintracht Bad Kreuznach in Germany's fourth tier. He would also represent SV Weher, SC Preußen Münster, and SG Wattenscheid 09 before playing for 1. FC Nürnberg II.
It was at Nürnberg where he started his coaching career, managing their youth teams before taking charge of the reserves. He then worked as Julian Nagelsmann's assistant at Hoffenheim before coaching Stuttgart. He then returned to Hoffenheim as manager, before taking charge at Real Sociedad.
With Sociedad, Materazzo recently won the Copa del Rey, which is some achievement. However, with his recent success, he may be reluctant to swap club soccer for coaching a national team right now.
Steve Cherundolo
Steve Cherundolo, of course, played for the USMNT, earning 87 caps. He has also had great success as a manager, winning MLS Cup with Los Angeles FC. However, he left the role for family reasons. This was due to his wanting to return to Germany, as he had played the entirety of his club career with Hannover 96.
Coaching a national team is very different from the day-in and day-out of a club job. Therefore, the USMNT head coach role could appeal to Cherundolo, as he should be able to maintain a very good work-life balance.
Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps will leave his role with France after the World Cup this summer. He has had great success with Les Bleus, winning the 2018 tournament and getting to the final in 2022. His side also got to the final of Euro 2016.
Deschamps may want to return to club soccer after the World Cup. He got AS Monaco to the Champions League final, guided Juventus to promotion from Serie B, and won Ligue 1 with Marseille. However, if he wants another international job, then the USMNT could be a good fit for him.
The Frenchman is a similar mould to Pochettino; both played at the highest level and managed top clubs before going into international management. The success of Pochettino this summer will be a factor in what type of head coach U.S. Soccer will go for next.
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