Mauricio Pochettino (53), coach of the U.S. men's national soccer team, has once again expressed a strong desire to return to Tottenham Hotspur.

British outlets 'Metro' and 'Sky Sports' reported on the 18th (Korea time) that "Coach Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that he dreams of returning to Tottenham Hotspur, which he previously led."

In an interview with Sky Sports, Coach Pochettino said, "When I left Tottenham, I said I wanted to come back someday. That desire remains unchanged today," adding, "I am currently in charge of the U.S. national team, so I cannot go into details, but if the opportunity arises in the future, I would like to take the reins again."

Coach Pochettino is regarded as the leader who guided Tottenham during its most successful period in history. He managed Tottenham from 2014 to 2019, leading them to the Premier League runner-up and UEFA Champions League final. He was dismissed in November 2019, leaving with the regret of not having won a trophy.

Coach Pochettino still values his connection with Tottenham. He said, "From the day I left Tottenham, I have dreamed of returning. I want to complete what we could not achieve."

He added, "We got really close to winning the Premier League and the Champions League trophy, but ultimately, we could not achieve it."

He emphasized that he still maintains a good relationship with Chairman Daniel Levy, who dismissed him, stating, "Professional relationships and personal feelings are different. We have respected each other, shared joy and difficulties over nearly six years, and we still have a good relationship."

Coach Pochettino has hinted at the possibility of returning to Tottenham several times before. In a 2020 interview with 'BT Sports', he said, "My time at Tottenham was truly fantastic. I am confident that our paths will cross again."

Since Pochettino departed, Tottenham has repeatedly faced changes in coaches and performance struggles. Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espírito Santo, Antonio Conte, and several other coaches who have managed the team recently failed to lead Tottenham to victory.

After leaving, Coach Pochettino also managed Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea but did not achieve the same level of success as during his time at Tottenham. He took the helm of PSG in 2021 but failed to win the Ligue 1 title in his first season and was eliminated in the Champions League round of 16, falling short of expectations. Ultimately, he parted ways with PSG in the summer of 2022.

He took on the role of Chelsea manager in the summer of 2023 but was dismissed after just one year. While he garnered significant attention for joining a rival team, he left without fulfilling his contract, as he did not achieve the expected results.

Currently, Coach Pochettino is leading the U.S. national team, the host of the 2026 North American World Cup. He has signed a two-year contract with the U.S. Soccer Federation, with a salary of $6 million, the highest treatment in the history of the U.S. national team.

The relationship between Coach Pochettino and Son Heung-min is also a familiar story to Tottenham fans. When Son Heung-min joined Tottenham in 2015 and faced difficulties in adapting, Coach Pochettino showed trust and helped him grow. Coach Pochettino played a significant role in Son Heung-min establishing himself as a legend at Tottenham.

Time is a variable. Son Heung-min is now entering his mid-30s, and his contract with Tottenham expires in June 2026. Even if Coach Pochettino returns to Tottenham after the World Cup, it is uncertain whether Son Heung-min will still be an active player.

Attention is focused on whether the day will come when Coach Pochettino will lead Tottenham again and whether he can turn the dream of winning that he has not yet achieved into reality.

[OSEN = reporter Jeong Seung-woo]