Daniel Levy, the chairman of Tottenham (63), met with U.S. soccer team coach Mauricio Pochettino (53), leading to increased speculation about his return to Tottenham.
The British media outlet 'CaughtOffside' reported on the 20th (Korean time) that "Levy was spotted talking with Pochettino at a cafe in London. This meeting is drawing attention amid Tottenham's struggles under coach Ange Postecoglou."
Coach Pochettino noted in an interview with Sky Sports on the 18th, "When I left Tottenham, I said I wanted to return one day. My feelings haven't changed. However, as I am currently in charge of the U.S. national team, I will refrain from further comments. But my affection for Tottenham remains strong."
He said about his relationship with Chairman Levy, "We spent almost six years together and shared many moments. There were difficult times, but we parted on good terms. Even after leaving, we have maintained a personal relationship."
Pochettino took charge of Tottenham in 2014 and led the team for five and a half years. He achieved runner-up and third place finishes in the Premier League during the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons, and he led the team to the UEFA Champions League final in the 2018-2019 season.
He guided the growth of young players such as Harry Kane, Dele Alli, and Son Heung-min. In particular, Son established himself as a key scorer from the 2016-2017 season onward, scoring double-digit goals. Notably, he recorded multiple goals in the quarter-finals of the 2018-2019 UCL against Manchester City. After the match, Coach Pochettino ran to Son and encouraged him, saying, "You did it. You are a world-class player."
However, after Tottenham struggled in the 2019-2020 season, Coach Pochettino relinquished control. Due to a plethora of injuries and failed reinforcements, the team fell to 14th place in the league and did not meet expectations in the Champions League. Ultimately, the club dismissed Coach Pochettino in November 2019 and appointed José Mourinho.
Coach Pochettino later led Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to a Ligue 1 victory. He joined Chelsea in the summer of 2023 but left the team after just one season.
Tottenham showed an upward trend at the beginning of Postecoglou's tenure just before last season, but recent performance has dropped, leaving them in 14th place in the league.
There are expectations that if Pochettino returns, he could lead a resurgence, but the environment is different from the past. Key players, including Kane, Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Kyle Walker, and Hugo Lloris, have all left the team. It is also unclear whether Chairman Levy will choose him again.
However, as Tottenham continues to struggle, the call for a coach change is growing louder.
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