The Soccer Interview is a brand new sequence wherein the largest names in sport and leisure be a part of host Kelly Somers for daring and in-depth conversations concerning the nation’s favorite sport.
We’ll discover mindset and motivation, and speak about defining moments, profession highs and private reflections. The Soccer Interview brings you the particular person behind the participant.
Interviews will drop on Saturdays throughout BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport web site. This week it will likely be proven on BBC One at 23:45 GMT (and after Sportscene in Scotland).
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When Mauricio Pochettino first got here to the Premier League as Southampton supervisor in 2013, he was not broadly recognized.
However now, after spells with Tottenham, Paris St-Germain and Chelsea, he is among the most recognisable names within the recreation.
Pochettino, 53, is getting ready to teach on the World Cup for the primary time, as supervisor of 2026 co-hosts United States.
The previous Argentina defender sat down with Kelly Somers to speak about rising up on a farm, internet hosting barbecues for his gamers, and his need to return to English soccer.
Mauricio Pochettino led Spurs to the 2019 Champions League remaining, which they misplaced 2-0 to Liverpool [Getty Images]
Kelly Somers: Why did you need to be concerned in soccer?
Mauricio Pochettino: After I was a baby, it was a factor which started to develop in my physique, my mind, my blood. Possibly as a result of my dad, my household, at all times felt ardour for soccer. However when I attempt to keep in mind, I’m going again to my grandad’s farm after I was little or no. I’d have a ball in my hand and I’d play.
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Kelly: So that you used to play soccer on a farm?
Mauricio: Sure, on my grandad’s farm. I began to play with my brother, my dad. That is after I began to really feel a ardour for the sport.
Kelly: Are you able to keep in mind the primary workforce you performed for?
Mauricio: In my hometown of Murphy. I performed there. However as a result of my dad was a Racing Membership fan, I grew up supporting them. Then I moved to Newell’s Younger Boys, and grew my profession there within the academy and first workforce.
Kelly: Are you able to keep in mind a time in your younger profession that you just thought, ‘I’ve bought an opportunity of creating it right here… it might be my life’?
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Mauricio: It was by no means in my head that I used to be going to make a residing taking part in soccer. After I was 13, 14, when Newell’s Previous Boys signed me, that is after I realised, ‘I’m not solely taking part in, this may be a technique to construct my profession and be knowledgeable’. That is after I realised I used to be not solely taking part in for enjoyable, however to outlive in life and earn cash.
Pochettino grew to become US supervisor – his first job in worldwide soccer – in 2024 [Getty Images]
Kelly: Are you able to keep in mind a time if you thought, ‘I need to be a supervisor’?
Mauricio: It began to develop little by little in my thoughts, after I was 27, 28. I moved from Espanyol to Paris St-Germain. I began to note how the coaches handled conditions. I began to problem my coaches, to note why they handled issues. Then it’s as much as you – your character, your capability to grasp and make choices. In case you get requested to decide, and also you say, ‘wait’… like individuals say now, ‘I will ask ChatGPT’ … no, it is advisable make choices in a short time, retailer information from completely different individuals, and imagine in your self.
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Kelly: In case you may relive one match out of your profession, what wouldn’t it be?
Mauricio: Participant or coach? Altering the consequence or reliving the expertise?
Kelly: Whichever method you need to go together with it.
Mauricio: One recreation I need to return to and relive, as a coach, is the Champions League semi-final with Ajax [as Tottenham manager in 2019]. That was top-of-the-line moments in my profession, my life. The sensation was superb. The emotion… it was one of many biggest moments. And the ultimate in Madrid [which Spurs lost 2-0 to Liverpool], I’ll attempt to play once more this recreation, for certain. I’ve no regrets, however in the event you gave me the chance, I’d not prefer it to complete the identical method.
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Kelly: Describe to me a younger Mauricio Pochettino. What had been you want rising up?
Mauricio: I do not know in the event you may be extra completely satisfied than if you had been a baby. My first reminiscences are very completely satisfied.
Kelly: Describe to me the house set-up… what it was like being in your family.
Mauricio: My mother and father, my brothers on the farm… I grew up on a farm till I used to be six years outdated. It was superb, with my canine, horses, however it was a workplace. My dad was a farmer. He had just one pair of sneakers – for Sundays. What I realized as I developed as a person was to respect life, respect individuals. That is as a result of in the event you develop in a spot with animals, they do not choose you. They present love and also you share all this stuff in life. It’s a large lesson and a pleasant setting for a kid to develop in. I like the town, however if you end up a baby rising up in a pure setting, you may study so much.
Pochettino was a part of the Argentina workforce that exited within the group stage of the 2002 World Cup [Getty Images]
Kelly: We are going to all be watching the World Cup subsequent summer time. What can we anticipate on the market?
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Mauricio: It will be superb. The USA is an incredible nation, with superb individuals and followers. I invite individuals to go and go to America, and share the joy. It’s a large alternative for the USA to point out how soccer, soccer…
Kelly: Nonetheless soccer? Or are you making an attempt to name it soccer?
Mauricio: No, it is soccer! They push me to say soccer!
Kelly: It should be thrilling to be spearheading that, and be a part of that – coming from a soccer tradition and instilling what you could have realized in your profession to them?
Mauricio: The motivation is huge. Typically you’re feeling individuals do not perceive the tradition of soccer… soccer. Typically it is advisable dwell with individuals who may help you. There are coaches on the market who say it is advisable perceive the tradition of American gamers. I say, ‘no, an important factor is the tradition of soccer’. They should know, and we have to translate that to the American gamers. After one yr, we’re making nice progress, and constructing with people who find themselves beginning to realise the language of soccer is just one – it would not matter if you’re American, Brazilian, English… there is just one language of soccer. We’re excited to construct a workforce which is aggressive to win in our personal nation, to attempt to get the consequence.
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Kelly: Is there part of you which ones misses the Premier League? Do you continue to watch it so much?
Mauricio: Yeah, I watch so much. The Premier League is one of the best on the planet. In fact I miss it. I’m so completely satisfied within the USA, however I’m at all times fascinated about returning someday. It’s the best league, and naturally I’d love to come back again once more.
Kelly: Inform me one factor about you, Mauricio, which might shock me.
Mauricio: I’m an excellent chef, significantly barbecues.
Kelly: Then why do you reside in England!
Mauricio: It’s attainable to do with umbrellas when it’s raining! I barbecue steak, veggies, fish, rooster. I’m excellent, very assured. After I was a participant, I did it with my team-mates, and as a coach.
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Kelly: You’ve got accomplished barbecues on your gamers?
Mauricio: At Tottenham, each 10 days or two weeks, we ready a barbecue. We had cooks and I’d assist.
Kelly: [Former chairman] Daniel Levy has left Tottenham now. You had a relationship with him if you had been on the membership. What did you make of the information of him leaving and the legacy he is left?
Mauricio: I used to be very shocked. We nonetheless be in contact. Our relationship was at all times good. His legacy is there. It is superb what he did for the membership. We’re in touch and someday I would wish to share a espresso with him. He made it a risk for me to handle a membership like Tottenham – top-of-the-line golf equipment on the planet with an incredible fanbase. I am very grateful to him and proud to be a part of the household of Tottenham.
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Kelly: In case you may obtain just one thing more in your profession, what wouldn’t it be?
Mauricio: Speaking concerning the Premier League, and we’re in London… to win the Premier League and the Champions League. We had been so shut in Tottenham. I need to obtain this. I’m nonetheless younger, I’ve the vitality, expertise and motivation to strive sooner or later. Outdoors, to make my household really feel proud – my sons, my spouse, my canine, my horses, my mum and pop, my granddaughter…
Kelly: You could have a granddaughter?
Mauricio: Yeah, eight months now. An important factor is the people who find themselves round you, and need to be with you. That’s an important factor you may obtain.