Levy meets Pochettino amid Tottenham coaching rumors and struggles

Daniel Levy, the 63-year-old chairman of Tottenham, is in the spotlight for meeting current U.S. men's national soccer team head coach Maurizio Pochettino, who previously led Tottenham.

The U.K.'s 'CaughtOffside' reported on the 20th (Korea time) that "Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was spotted with former Tottenham head coach Pochettino at a café in London. With Tottenham's struggles continuing under head coach Ange Postecoglou, their meeting is drawing attention."

Earlier on the 18th, head coach Pochettino noted in an interview with 'Sky Sports,' "When I left Tottenham, I said I wanted to return someday. My feelings have not changed. Since I am currently coaching in the U.S., I will refrain from further comments, but even as time passes, my affection for Tottenham remains strong."

He mentioned that he has maintained a good relationship with Chairman Daniel Levy since leaving Tottenham. Pochettino explained, "We shared many moments over nearly six years. We shared joys and difficulties, and there were emotionally challenging times. We parted ways on good terms and think of our professional and personal relationships separately. We have maintained a good relationship until now."

Pochettino took charge of Tottenham after leaving Southampton in 2014 and led the team for five and a half years until he was dismissed in November 2019, competing among the upper ranks of the Premier League. He recorded runners-up and third place in the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons, respectively, and reached the UEFA Champions League (UCL) final in the 2018-2019 season, achieving the best results in the club's history.

He showed an ability to develop young players, leading the growth of key figures such as Harry Kane, Dele Alli, and Son Heung-min. Son struggled to adapt in his first season with Pochettino but established himself as a key forward by scoring double-digit goals starting in the 2016-2017 season. In the 2018-2019 UCL quarterfinals, he played a major role in reaching the final by scoring multiple goals against Manchester City. Pochettino warmly embraced Son at the time, praising him, "You did it. You are a world-class player."

However, Tottenham fell into a slump in the 2019-2020 season. Insufficient reinforcements in the summer transfer market and a series of injuries caused their performance to decline. The team managed only 3 wins in 12 league matches, falling to 14th place. In the Champions League, they also failed to meet expectations. Ultimately, Tottenham dismissed Pochettino in November 2019, appointing José Mourinho as his successor.

Afterward, Pochettino gained recognition for his leadership on the European stage. In 2021, he took the helm of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and won the Ligue 1 title. He joined Chelsea in the summer of 2023 but left the team after one season.

Currently, Tottenham is struggling under head coach Postecoglou. While there was a good start early in his tenure, recent performances have declined, dropping to 14th place in the league. There are expectations that if Pochettino were to take charge again, he could return the team to form.

However, Pochettino is likely to face challenging circumstances in a different environment compared to the past. Key players who shared their prime years with him, including Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Kyle Walker, and Hugo Lloris, have all left the team.

It remains to be seen whether Levy will choose Pochettino again. However, as Postecoglou's tenure has continued for nearly two years with below-expectation results, the opinion that change is necessary is gaining traction.

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