Top 5 Mauricio Pochettino destinations – Next club odds

Mauricio Pochettino was relieved of his position at Tottenham, so we look at which clubs are likely to be in the hunt for his signature.

Top 5 Mauricio Pochettino destinations? Mauricio Pochettino has been sacked by Tottenham Hotspur just six months after leading the club to the Champions League final. Spurs have made a disappointing start to the current campaign and are 14th in the Premier League.

Former Southampton boss Pochettino guided Tottenham to the League Cup final in his first full season while two third-placed finishes sandwiched a runners-up spot in the Premier League in 2017. As well as leading Spurs to a runners-up finish in last season’s Champions League he also took them to fourth in the league, although they did only manage to win three of their final 12 league games.

He also had to contend with playing home games at Wembley for 18 months while the club’s new ground was built and his impressive results despite this led to links with Real Madrid and Manchester United. However, Spurs have failed to build on the promise of recent seasons this term. As well as their disappointing league form, they were knocked out of the League Cup by League Two side Colchester and hammered 7-2 at home by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Top 5 Mauricio Pochettino destinations

Real Madrid? Barcelona? Bayern Munich? Manchester United? Mauricio Pochettino next destination? Let’s take a look at what the bookmakers have to say about this.

5. Barcelona – 8/1 odds to become Pochettino next destination

Barcelona has got to be an option should Ernesto Valverde leave the Nou Camp. However, citing his loyalty to Espanyol, Pochettino has previously claimed he would not wish to coach Barca – not to mention Lionel Messi. However, should the Catalan giants come calling, it may be difficult for Pochettino to turn down the opportunity to take the helm at Camp Nou.

Ernesto Valverde appeared to be on the brink of losing his job following last season’s Champions League capitulation and defeat in the Copa del Rey final. With Barca stuttering in both La Liga and the Champions League so far this term, Valverde – who does not seem to be too popular with the club’s fanbase – could well be on borrowed time now Pochettino is available.

Probably the least likely in this list but not totally out of the question.

4. PSG – 8/1 odds to become Pochettino next destination

As a former player at PSG, Pochettino will always be linked with the big-spending French club. PSG have always got to be thrown into the mix, although at the time of writing Thomas Tuchel’s position looks pretty secure with the French giants eight points clear at the summit of Ligue 1, and five points better off than Real Madrid – who they thrashed 3-0 – at the top of their Champions League group.

We know the club’s owners and fans demand Champions League success, so if they yet again collapse in the knockout-stages Tuchel could be gone in the summer even with a league title under his belt. One things for sure, if he’s appointed, Pochettino would put himself in a great position to win trophies.

3. Real Madrid – 7/2 odds to become Pochettino next destination

Real Madrid have also been consistently touted to hold a major interest in Pochettino, with Los Blancos having endured a difficult season in 2018-19 after Zinedine Zidane elected to leave on the back of winning a third straight Champions League. Zidane returned to the Santiago Bernabeu in March, of course, after a miserable stint from Julen Lopetegui and underwhelming performances under Santiago Solari.

Without Cristiano Ronaldo to call on, Zidane has not had quite the impact as he had during his first spell in charge, though Madrid do sit level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona. Madrid would be able to offer the riches and resources Tottenham never could for Pochettino, but will they oust a club legend to bring him in?

2. Manchester United – 3/1 odds to become Pochettino next destination

After sacking Jose Mourinho in December 2018, Manchester United were heavily linked with Pochettino, but instead appointed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. However, since Solskjaer – who was initially handed an interim role at Old Trafford – took permanent charge in March, United’s form has been inconsistent to say the least.

The Red Devils have managed just six Premier League victories since Solskjaer was named as their full-time boss and they sit just two points above Spurs in the table. With a squad still in the midst of an apparent overhaul, United may well now rekindle their interest.

Many at Old Trafford will be desperate for the club legend to succeed, however the sudden availability of Pochettino could well turn a few heads. Despite his Spurs sacking, Pochettino can lay claim to being in the top cluster of gaffers in Europe, and while he may fancy a break of sorts, should United come calling you can only see one outcome.

1. Bayern Munich – 6/5 odds to become Pochettino next destination

On the top of our Top 5 Mauricio Pochettino destinations list is Bundesliga champions Bayern, who were ruthless in their decision to axe Niko Kovac earlier in November and are now on the hunt for a permanent replacement. Interim coach Hans Flick has won both of his matches in temporary charge – 2-0 against Olympiacos and 4-0 over Borussia Dortmund – but Bayern might be tempted by the opportunity to appoint a coach with the pedigree of Pochettino.

Bayern could offer Pochettino plenty of money to spend in the transfer market, though there would also be the added expectation of silverware not only on the domestic front, but also in Europe. The chance to manage in a third top-league with a club of Bayern’s stature, history and fan base would surely appeal to Pochettino, as would getting his hand on a trophy for the first time in his managerial career, which you would think would be pretty probable at The Bavarians.

Notable mentions:

Argentina National Team – 20/1 odds to become Pochettino next destination

After 10 years at club level, Pochettino may fancy entering into international waters for the first time, should an opportunity arise. The most likely destination is, unsurprisingly, his homeland of Argentina, a country no stranger to switching managers on a regular basis with current incumbent Lionel Scaloni the fourth Argentina manager since 2016.

Sabbatical – 10/1 odds for Pochettino not to take any club

After a full on, demanding, emotional period at Spurs does Poch need a break to recover, rethink and re-energise? His stock will not fall while he is out of a job, in fact you would expect it to raise as managers of his ilk started to falter in their roles.

Since cutting his teeth in management with Espayol he has had just two months out of work, so now seems a good time to take a little break.

SEE ALSO: