Former USA Head Coach Arena Asserts Pochettino Lacks Understanding of Role’s Significance

Former USA head coach Bruce Arena has voiced his concerns regarding the hiring of Argentine Mauricio Pochettino, indicating that foreign coaches may fall short in grasping the significance of the position.

Pochettino, known for his tenure at Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, took over the USA role in September 2024, succeeding American manager Gregg Berhalter.

“If you consider every national team globally, the coach is typically a home-grown talent,” Arena remarked during the ‘Unfiltered Soccer’ podcast, where he was joined by past American internationals Landon Donovan and Tim Howard.

“When you have coaches who aren’t familiar with our culture, environment, and players, it poses a challenge. I’m sure he is a capable coach, but coaching at the international level differs significantly from club football; it’s an entirely different role,” he elaborated.

Arena, 73, famously guided the USA to the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup—marking their best achievement in the modern era—but faced setbacks during his second tenure in 2017 when his squad failed to qualify for the following year’s tournament in Russia.

The current San Jose Earthquakes coach, a five-time MLS champion, suggested that Pochettino lacks an understanding of the USA national team’s cultural landscape.

“To be a successful national team coach, you must be familiar with your surroundings and understand the players you are coaching, and that’s where we’re falling short,” he asserted.

“An American coach possesses an intrinsic understanding of the culture, the pride involved, and the significance of representing the national team. Bringing in someone from the outside often results in a disconnect, especially given how unique our country is,” he added.

A long-standing figure in Major League Soccer, Arena joined the Earthquakes this season after parting ways with the New England Revolution in 2023, where he was placed on administrative leave due to allegations of “insensitive and inappropriate remarks.”

Arena, having held the national team coach position twice and previously critiqued Jurgen Klinsmann’s leadership, expressed his surprise at the recent losses to Panama and Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League.

“I observed those matches and was taken aback. It’s astonishing to me that we couldn’t secure victories against Panama and Canada,” he stated.

“I certainly don’t want to come off as disrespectful. I wish them all the best in the World Cup, without a doubt. However, we only have a year left, and time is of the essence; they need to hit the ground running,” he concluded.

The USA is set to co-host the World Cup next year alongside Canada and Mexico.