Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Mauricio Pochettino spotted wearing Tottenham training shirt as PSG sack looms

Mauricio Pochettino has proved his love for Tottenham runs deep as he was pictured wearing a Spurs training kit on holiday.

The Argentine coach, 50, is expected to leave Paris Saint-Germain shortly following an underwhelming 18-month spell in the French capital. Although he's won three honours - including the Ligue 1 title - Pochettino has failed to guide PSG to Champions League glory.

The French giants were dumped out of Europe's premier competition by Real Madrid last season, throwing away a two-goal lead during the final 30 minutes of the last-16 tie. Pochettino also failed get the best out of superstars Neymar and Lionel Messi - who scored just 24 goals between them in 2021-22 - after the latter joined PSG on a free transfer from Barcelona.

As speculation over his future continues, Pochettino posted a photo of him and his former Espanyol team-mate Ivan de la Pena on his Instagram account. In the picture, the ex-Spurs boss is wearing a Tottenham training shirt instead of his PSG gear - despite both clubs being sponsored by Nike.

The photo suggests Pochettino, who played for PSG between 2001 and 2003, won't be employed in Paris for much longer. It's believed the two parties have reached an agreement over his exit and an announcement will be made in the coming days.

Pochettino isn't expected to have another job lined up. Antonio Conte is the current Tottenham manager and still has 12 months remaining on his deal. Conte has impressed in London, securing Champions League qualification last season.

Will Mauricio Pochettino return to Tottenham one day? Let us know in the comments below!

Pochettino is set to receive a hefty pay-off as he still has 12 months left on his contract. Reports suggest PSG will pay the former Espanyol and Southampton manager €15million - around £12.8m - to leave his position ahead of schedule.

The French giants are set to appoint either Zinedine Zidane or Christophe Galtier as their new boss. Both managers have fine CVs, with Zidane guiding Real to three consecutive Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles during his two spells at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Zidane was also named FIFA's Manager of the Year in 2017. The 49-year-old is a free agent after leaving Real in May 2021 and PSG will be attracted by his European pedigree. He is the only manager in history to lift three straight European Cups.

Yet Galtier is impressive in his own right. The Nice boss, 55, has more than a decade of managerial experience in French football, previously coaching Saint-Etienne and Lille. He led the latter team to the Ligue 1 title in 2020-21, pipping Pochettino's PSG to the honour.

Galtier also has a good relationship with Luis Campos, PSG's new director of football. Campos was responsible for constructing Galtier's title-winning squad at Lille before leaving the club in December 2020.

PSG are desperate to claim their first Champions League crown. They've dominated French football since Qatar Sports Investments, a subsidiary of Qatar's sovereign-wealth fund, purchased the club in 2011 - winning eight Ligue 1 titles.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.