"I miss the world of football in England." Mauricio Pochettino didn't bury that line in a press conference ramble — he said it clearly, deliberately, to L'Équipe. For a man whose USMNT contract expires the moment the World Cup ends this summer, it reads less like nostalgia and more like a statement of intent.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are in a mess that needs fixing. Interim boss Igor Tudor is clinging on after a defeat to Nottingham Forest that reopened relegation conversations nobody in north London wants to be having. The Telegraph has already named Pochettino as one of the frontrunners to take the job permanently at the end of the season, alongside Roberto De Zerbi — assuming Spurs survive long enough to make the appointment worthwhile.
Tudor's grip is loosening
There was a brief window last week where Tudor looked like he might steady the ship. A point at Anfield, a 3-2 win over Atlético Madrid — the kind of results that buy a manager time. Then Forest happened, and the goodwill evaporated. The Telegraph reported his future is back in serious doubt, and the club confirmed Monday that Tudor's father Mario has passed away, which kept him away from post-match media entirely.
Replacing him mid-season with Pochettino isn't happening. The Argentine is locked in on leading the USMNT through a home World Cup — that doesn't get shelved for a struggling club side, however much history is involved. But the summer calculation is different.
Spurs' hierarchy — sporting director Johan Lange and CEO Vinai Venkatesham — have been urged by sections of the fanbase to look toward figures with genuine ties to the club. Pochettino spent five years building something at Spurs before Daniel Levy pulled the plug in 2019. The emotional connection is real. So is the football case — he's one of the few managers who actually got that squad competing at the top level.
What this means beyond the sentiment
The practical picture is worth thinking through carefully. Pochettino would arrive at a Spurs side that has spent most of this season fighting off relegation, with a squad that needs serious investment and a culture that needs resetting. That's not a guaranteed success story — it's a project with real risk attached, and his record since leaving Spurs (PSG, Chelsea) hasn't been without its complications.
De Zerbi is the other name in the frame, and he'd bring a different energy — younger, tactically distinct, with less of the baggage that inevitably comes with returning to a club where things ended badly. His interest reportedly hinges on Spurs' top-flight survival, which itself is not yet certain.
Spurs' next game isn't until April 12 after the international break and FA Cup quarterfinals. That's a long time for uncertainty to fester — and for the Pochettino conversation to get louder.
"For anyone with a competitive spirit who wants to measure themselves against others," he told L'Équipe, "it's the ideal place. There, you have to constantly give your best." He was talking about England. He didn't mention Tottenham by name. He didn't need to.
