Ever since Mauricio Pochettino left Tottenham Hotspur, many fans have been desperate for him to return. Although he never won any trophies for Spurs, the Argentine is widely regarded as one of the best managers in the clubâs history. So why did he leave in the first place?
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy sacked Mauricio Pochettino due to âextremely disappointingâ domestic results. Levy acknowledged that the decision was âextremely reluctantâ, but he felt it was in the clubâs best interests to relieve Pochettino and his coaching staff of their duties.
Six months earlier, Pochettino led Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final, where they lost 2-0 against Liverpool. For much of his time at Spurs, the popular coach was unable to spend as much money as the clubâs top-four rivals. For that reason, many supporters (and neutrals) thought Pochettino deserved more time to turn things around.
When did Mauricio Pochettino leave Tottenham?
Mauricio Pochettino left Tottenham on November 19, 2019. At the time, Spurs were 14th in the Premier League table after 12 games, 11 points off the top four and six points above the relegation zone.
âWe keep a great relationship and always we are going to be [associated] forever,â Pochettino later told Sky Sports. âBecause the decision to sack me or the decision to leave the club is not going to change the memories we spent together. The five years at the club were amazing and I think that this period, for us, was incredible.â
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Tottenham announced Pochettinoâs departure 10 days after his last game in charge â a 1-1 draw at home to Sheffield United. His replacement, Jose Mourinho, guided Spurs to a sixth-placed finish in 2019-20 before being sacked during the 2020-21 season.
Mauricio Pochettinoâs last 24 domestic games at Tottenham
In fairness to Daniel Levy, Tottenhamâs Premier League form had been nowhere near good enough towards the end of Mauricio Pochettinoâs tenure. Levyâs comment about poor domestic results likely referred to the last 12 games of 2018-19 and the first 12 of 2019-20.
During that run, Tottenham only picked up 25 points from 24 games â the kind of form you would expect from a relegation-threatened team. That period included seven draws, 11 defeats, and only six victories.
The most damaging loss came on October 5, 2019, when Brighton hammered Spurs 3-0. Pochettino never recovered after that, losing one and drawing three of the next four Premier League games before being dismissed.
When did Mauricio Pochettino join Tottenham?
On May 28, 2014, Mauricio Pochettino became Tottenham manager after resigning as Southampton boss. He replaced Tim Sherwood, who had been sacked two weeks earlier after leading Spurs to a sixth-placed Premier League finish.
âThis is a club with tremendous history and prestige and I am honoured to have been given this opportunity to be its head coach,â Pochettino said after arriving. âThere is an abundance of top-class talent at the club and I am looking forward to starting work with the squad.â
In Pochettinoâs five full seasons in charge, Tottenham finished fifth (2014-15), third (2015-16), second (2016-17), third (2017-18) and fourth (2018-19). The clubâs best points tally during that time came in 2016-17 when they finished on 86 points, seven behind champions Chelsea.