Exclusive: Mauricio Pochettino’s stance on accepting Tottenham offer revealed
Mauricio Pochettino is keen on returning to Tottenham as their new manager, sources have told Football Insider.
The 53-year-old United States manager has privately made it clear he would jump at the chance to manage his old club for a second time.
But he will not be available until after the World Cup finishes, which means Tottenham could only appoint them if they are willing to wait until the summer or if they name an interim manager for the rest of the season.
Pochettino is on Spurs’ next permanent manager shortlist along with the likes of Roberto De Zerbi, Robbie Keane and John Heitinga.
One solution is for Spurs to appoint an interim manager; Keane is one strong option for that position, with Pochettino then returning in the summer.
Pochettino’s name was sung loudly by fans during Thomas Frank’s final game in charge against Newcastle United on Tuesday night, and the club hierarchy are aware of the strength of feeling towards the former manager.
The Club has taken the decision to make a change in the Men’s Head Coach position and Thomas Frank will leave today.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 11, 2026
Thomas was appointed in June 2025, and we have been determined to give him the time and support needed to build for the future together.
However, results and… pic.twitter.com/mo82TaAXts
What has Mauricio Pochettino said about returning to Tottenham?
While Pochettino has had numerous jobs since he left Tottenham in 2019, he has made it no secret that he plans to return to the North London club one day.
During his five-year spell, he oversaw Spurs’ rise to one of the top teams in the Premier League.
Tottenham reached the Champions League final in 2018, and were in two Premier League title fights before missing out to Chelsea and Leicester City.
While a trophy never came Pochettino’s way at Spurs, he has expressed his desire to return to the North London club one day.
He told Sky Sports via The Standard on 18 March 2025: “Look, when I left the club I always remember one interview I said I would like one day to come back to Tottenham … what I said then still after six years or five years, I still feel in my heart that, yes, I would like one day to come back.”
How does Pochettino’s record rank compared to Tottenham’s other managers?
Overall, in the Premier League era, Pochettino has the third-best win rate at Spurs, showing why many of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium faithful still have a high opinion of the former Chelsea boss.
Perhaps surprisingly, Tim Sherwood is top at 59 per cent, followed by Antonio Conte at 57 per cent.
Pochettino has a 56 per cent win rate, putting him higher than the likes of Harry Redknapp and Jose Mourinho.
In comparison, Thomas Frank had the worst win rate out of any permanent manager in Spurs’ Premier League history, at just 27 per cent.
The Dane won just seven of his 26 matches, and if Pochettino is appointed, he will have a big task undoing this mess in the summer.
For more reaction to Thomas Frank’s sacking, read our expert analysis on Tottenham Hotspur News.