Mauricio Pochettino admits Premier League longing amid Tottenham return talk

The former Spurs and Chelsea boss is currently in charge of the United States men's national team, preparing them for the 2026 World Cup on home soil alongside Canada and Mexico. He took over the role in September 2024 following his departure from Chelsea at the end of the 2023-24 season.

Despite his focus on international duty, Pochettino made clear his affection for the English game, where he spent significant spells with Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea.

"I love the country, its culture, the football culture," he said in an interview with French publication L'Equipe. "For anyone with a competitive spirit who wants to measure themselves against others and test their abilities, it's the ideal place. You have to constantly give your best."

Pochettino's most notable English tenure came at Tottenham, where he spent five years between 2014 and 2019. During that spell he guided Spurs to four consecutive Champions League finishes and a Champions League final, before being dismissed in 2019.

He later returned to the Premier League with Chelsea for the 2023-24 season, but left the club by mutual consent after one campaign.

The 54-year-old has previously acknowledged he would like to manage in England again one day, telling BBC Sport last year he was "so happy in America but also thinking one day to come back to the Premier League".

His comments come at a time when Tottenham's managerial situation is once again unsettled, with the club battling to avoid relegation after a difficult run of results under Igor Tudor, who took over on an interim basis following Thomas Frank's exit in February.

Spurs are just one point above the relegation zone with seven matches remaining, adding further pressure on the club's search for stability.

Pochettino, however, has played down immediate expectations of a return, previously ruling out a move back to Tottenham last year, saying it was "not realistic" at the time.

He has also revealed that while at Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, he was approached by Tottenham and other major clubs just six months into his spell in France, though no move materialised.

"I had other options, which I shared with the club, but they chose not to listen," he added.

Despite his current focus on international football, Pochettino's admiration for English football - and Tottenham's ongoing struggles - ensures his name continues to surface whenever the north London job becomes uncertain.