The US Soccer Federation took a significant step forward in unveiling ex-Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino as their newest US Men’s National Team (USMNT) head coach. This will be a wholly new experience for the Argentine gaffer, who spent his entire coaching career managing clubs across Europe.
Pochettino has been brought in because of his ability to get the best out of young players and his brand of aggressive and attacking football with an energetic, high pressing approach.
Even though he was relieved of his duties at Chelsea after only one season at helm, Pochettino’s stock remains high among various footballing minds. The US Soccer Federation believe that he is the ideal man to replace ex-coach Gregg Belhalter and can help usher the USMNT, which consists of many players doing their trades in Europe, to the next level.
How Much Is Mauricio Pochettino Earning As USMNT Coach?
But a major question that lingered around many fans were exactly how the US Federation could afford a top brass manager like Pochettino. Well, it turns out that both parties have had to come to a compromise of sort and the Argentine gaffer has been forced to take a hefty pay-cut to take up this interesting opportunity.
Pochettino reportedly earned a salary of just under £10m-a-year at Chelsea during his time at Stamford Bridge. He also apparently received a compensation package of that same £10m amount once the club decided to sack him when the gaffer still had 18 months remaining on his contract.
But Pochettino will earn considerably less as the USMNT head coach. It has since been revealed that the US Soccer Federation has agreed to pay him a $6 million (£4.6 million) salary package per year.
Even though this is less than half of what he used to earn in the London club, it still makes Pochettino the highest-paid manager in US Soccer history.
Compared to coaches who managed national teams in Euro 2024, Pochettino’s salary puts him only behind what Gareth Southgate earned as England boss before leaving the team.
This comes after the US Federation also made ex-Chelsea women’s manager Emma Hayes the new USWNT manager by paying her a ground-breaking $1.6 million (£1.2 million) yearly salary, the highest any women’s team coach has earned in that position.
Who Are Funding Pochettino’s Salary?
But it turns out that the US Federation doesn’t exactly have all that money to pay Pochettino all by themselves. What they’ve done is rope in the ‘support’ of two particular Hedge Fund Billionaire’s to help fund the majority of the Argentine gaffer’s yearly salary for his two-year contract.
US Soccer revealed in a statement that Pochettino’s appointment was significantly helped by a ‘philanthropic gift’ from Billionnaires Kenneth C. Griffin and Scott Goodwin.
These two highly powerful people are both hedge fund managers in the US and some of the richest in the country.
Griffin is the Founder and CEO of Citadel, a Miami-based hedge fund that manages $59 billion (£45bn) in assets. Citadel Securities is responsible for one of every five stock trades in the US Stock Market and is one of Wall Street’s biggest market-making firms.
He has also donated over £1 billion in philanthropic efforts to Harvard University and does most of his donation through Griffin Catalyst. Kenneth Griffin’s current estimated worth is $43 billion (£32.9 bn).
Along with him, Scott Goodwin is another prolific hedge fund manager in the US. He’s the co-founder and managing director of the credit asset management firm Diameter Capital Partners. Diameter manages assets worth $3.8 billion (£2.9bn) for four client accounts and Goodwin is himself also a billionaire thanks to how he’s helped Diameter soar in value and reputation in recent years.
Pochettino will take up his residence in Atlanta after the US Soccer relocated there from Chicago, but the federation also wants him spending time in Europe to be closely watching his players.
The Argentine gaffer can at least be closer to his home country after relocating to the US, but now that he’s getting this much money through the help of investors, the pressure will be mounted on him from day one to help the USMNT become one of the best in international football.
