Mauricio Pochettino played big role in £7m Southampton transfer - it hasn't worked | OneFootball

Mauricio Pochettino was still pulling the strings at Southampton over a decade on from his departure as head coach

Mauricio Pochettino was a popular figure at Southampton during his time as head coach, and his influence at the club even extended well beyond the end of his spell in charge.

The Argentine was initially hired under controversial circumstances midway through 2012/13, having replaced Nigel Adkins amid the team’s battle to survive in their first year back in the Premier League.

But he quickly won over the fans with impressive results and performances, leading the Saints to 14th and eighth place finishes.

Pochettino’s strong work at St. Mary’s led to him moving to Tottenham Hotspur following the conclusion of 2013/14, but even as recently as 2025 he still had a role to play for the Hampshire outfit.

Mauricio Pochettino’s role in Damion Downs signing

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Pochettino’s career led to him becoming the manager of the United States in September 2024, and as part of that role he decided to offer a call-up to Damion Downs.

The forward received his first cap for the USA while competing in the 2025 Gold Cup, debuting in a 4-0 loss to Switzerland.

And it was during the Gold Cup that he made the switch to Southampton, signing from Koln on a four-and-a-half year deal.

The striker opened up on the role Pochettino played in his decision to sign for the Saints, suggesting that the two talked about the club and its environment.

“I knew [that Pochettino managed Southampton], we talked a little bit,” said Downs, via the club’s website.

“He just told me how great the city is, how great the club is and the fans.

“The resume speaks for itself – Southampton had a lot of great players in the past, and I think this is the right move for me right now to make the next step in my career.”

Damion Downs’s difficult Southampton spell

Downs made his debut for Southampton as a substitute in their opening Championship fixture last season, playing 21 minutes in a dramatic 2-1 win over Wrexham.

The forward provided the assist for the late match-winning goal against the Red Dragons, which proved to be the highlight of his time with the Hampshire outfit.

The United States international had to wait until 20 September for his first start, playing in a 3-1 loss to Hull City.

Downs featured off the bench seven more times before going out on loan to Hamburg in the January window.

Damion Downs’ summer exit from Southampton

Downs returned from his Hamburg loan in the summer, only to end up going back out on loan again at the end of the transfer window.

The forward has joined St. Louis City, making the move to MLS where he will be closer to the watchful eye of Pochettino.

It’s clear that the 22-year-old is not part of Tonda Eckert’s plans at St. Mary’s, and he will need a quite impressive run of form to change his mind in the future.

However, he is still young and could yet develop enough to show the German coach that he can have an impact for Southampton.

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Damion Downs needs to improve after disappointing Hamburg spell

But if Downs is going to show Eckert that he has a role to play at Southampton in the future, then he must improve on the level he showed at Hamburg last season.

He joined the German club on loan in January, and made 12 appearances in the Bundesliga, including six starts.

But he failed to score a single goal in that time, with Hamburg going on to finish 13th in the table.

The opportunity at St. Louis is one he has to grab with both hands, or else he is at risk of having his career stall out.