Former PSG boss reveals Real Madrid opportunity came both as player and manager | OneFootball

Former Tottenham Hotspur, PSG and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that he came close to becoming the Real Madrid coach during his time in the Premier League.

The Argentine, who is now in charge of the United States national team, revealed that although the opportunity was real, the move did not materialise.

After high-profile stints in England and France, Pochettino is currently experiencing his first adventure as an international coach.

Despite this new chapter, the former Spurs boss looked back on moments in his career where Real Madrid showed serious interest in securing his services.

Speaking about his near links to Madrid both as a player and as a coach, Pochettino told El Chiringuito TV,

“As a player, I had the chance and it didn’t happen. As a coach, I had a couple of chances, but sometimes these are the moments that happen in football.”

When did it happen?

Mauricio Pochettino had contacts with Real Madrid. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)

The 53-year-old went on to explain that the opportunity to coach Real Madrid was most concrete when Zinedine Zidane left the club.

At the time, Pochettino was in charge of Tottenham Hotspur and had just given his word to chairman Daniel Levy that he would continue at the club until the opening of their new stadium.

“I don’t know how Florentino Perez took it. It wasn’t my business. I wasn’t out of contract…

“But it’s never too late if the joy is worth it,” said Pochettino, making it clear that the timing simply was not right for the move to happen.

While the Madrid job slipped away on that occasion, Pochettino’s words suggest he is far from ruling out a future in the Spanish capital.

By leaving the door open, the Argentine has made it clear that, should the opportunity arise again, he would be willing to embrace the challenge of managing one of the biggest clubs in world football.