Mauricio Pochettino has been out of a job since he was sacked by Tottenham last November. The Argentinian has been linked with a number of roles since then, including Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Pochettino is 5/6 in the betting to manage Newcastle as his next club. The North East club are expected to be taken over in the near future, and if that deal does go through, the new owners are likely to want their own manager.
Newcastle are one of the biggest clubs in England and have desperately underperformed for the past couple of decades. This new investment may be what they need to springboard them to success once again.
Pochettino is one of the highest-profile managers currently out of work so it is easy to see why he is odds-on to be the next Newcastle boss.
The current Magpies manager Steve Bruce has done a good job stabilising the club in the Premier League. They have relegation odds on the Premiership of 17/1, so they look likely to stay up. With the ambitions of the prospective owners though, Bruce may have to step aside.
If he did sign for Newcastle, it would be Pochettino’s third Premier League club of his career. He first came to England to 2013 when he was appointed as Southampton’s manager.
Poch Can Work on Low Budget
Pochettino has proven at Southampton and Tottenham that he can work on a low budget and still over-perform. He spent very little at Spurs yet was still able to compete with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool for the title.
Even if a takeover was completed at Newcastle, he is unlikely to be handed a blank cheque book. Poch will need to uncover some young talent that he can mould into future stars of the league.
Unlike many other managers in Europe, Pochettino is a strong believer in bringing players through the youth system at the club. Newcastle have a strong academy set-up, so he would ensure those who deserve a place in the senior squad get an opportunity to impress.
Newcastle Fans Demand Attacking Philosophy
One of Newcastle’s best periods in the Premier League era came in the mid-90s, and that is when they were known for their attacking football. The likes of David Ginola, Peter Beardsley and Alan Shearer were all fan favourites due to their style of play.
Newcastle fans would welcome Poch with open arms as his attacking philosophy is exactly what they feel they will need. The supporters at the North East club can accept losing as long as they do so with an attacking brand of football.
It is indeed Pochettino’s philosophy that is ensuring he is being linked with some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Bayern Munich. Hans Dieter-Flick has helped the German giants to their eighth straight title this season. They continue to be popular betting tips on the German football as their form since December has been excellent.
There is no doubt Pochettino is going to have success elsewhere in his career. Newcastle fans will be hoping it is at St James’ Park that he is able flourish once again in the Premier League.