Mauricio Pochettino's future as manager of Paris Saint-Germain was all but decided following his team's 3-2 aggregate loss to Real Madrid in the 2021-2022 UEFA Champions League round of 16. Pochettino took over as PSG manager on January 2, 2021, succeeding Thomas Tuchel. On a personal level, the Argentine coach has had a successful time at PSG, winning three trophies, including the Ligue 1 title in the 2021–2022 season. However, PSG want Champions League glory, a trophy they have never won. PSG have opted to break ties with its current manager, Mauricio Pochettino, after he failed to motivate the French team to win Europe's most coveted club championship. Let's take a look at the potential successors to Mauricio Pochettino at PSG.
Six Potential Candidates to Replace Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint-Germain
The PSG hierarchy is now getting frustrated with the way the club has performed over the years, especially in the Champions League. They have invested heavily in bringing superstar footballers to the club in recent seasons after winning the most prestigious club competition in Europe. However, they have yet to win the competition. The only time they were so close to winning the competition was in 2020, when they lost the final to Bayern Munich 1-0.
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The Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain were hopeful when they appointed Pochettino as their new manager in early 2021. However, the Argentine head coach failed to meet the expectations and was eliminated from the round of 16 in last season’s Champions League. It seems his termination is on the cards and he can be sacked at any time in the month of June. Here are a few prospective Mauricio Pochettino’s replacements.
Joachim Low
Former German national team head coach Joachim Low is on PSG’s radar as a potential replacement for Mauricio Pochettino. He won the World Cup with Germany in 2014, so Joachim knows how to inspire a team to win big trophies. However, as per sources, PSG will consider other options first before turning to Joachim Low.
Major Success:
DFB-Pokal (1), FIFA World Cup (2014), FIFA Confederations Cup (2017).
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Thiago Motta
Former PSG player Thiago Motta is a huge fan favourite and could be an ideal option for a long-term plan. Motta played for Paris Saint-Germain as a midfielder from 2012 to 2018 and helped them win multiple trophies. Since retirement, Thiago Motta has taken coaching as his next profession. He helped Italian side Spezia Calcio avoid relegation from Serie A in the 2021–2022 season. However, PSG want a more renowned coach who can take the club to the next level.
Major Success:
N/A
Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel was sacked as PSG manager in January 2021. Within three weeks, Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as Chelsea manager. In the same season, Tuchel guided Chelsea to win their second UEFA Champions League trophy. If they fail to attract other options, PSG may turn their attention to bringing Thomas once again to the club.
Major Success:
DFB-Pokal (2017), Ligue 1 (2019.2020), UEFA Champions League (2021).
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Antonio Conte
Antonio Conte did a great job with Tottenham Hotspur in the 2021–2022 season, helping his side to finish fourth in the Premier League points table. Conte is a renowned coach who has had notable success with some of the big clubs in Europe. This Italian mastermind is PSG’s one major target to replace Pochettino.
Major Success:
Serie A (2012, 2013, 2014, 2021), Premier League (2017)
Jose Mourinho
Mourinho is regarded as one of the world's best coaches in the last twenty years. He has won Champions League titles with Inter Milan and Porto. In addition, Mourinho has had notable domestic success with multiple European giants. Recently, he won the inaugural edition of the UEFA Europa Conference League with AS Roma. PSG could consider Mourinho as a good option to replace Pochettino.
Major Success:
Primeira Liga (2003, 2004), Premier League (2005,2006,2015), Serie A (2009,2010), La Liga (2012), UEFA Europa League (2017), UEFA Europa Conference League (2022), UEFA Champions League (2004,2010).
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Zinedine Zidane
PSG’s number one target to replace Mauricio Pochettino is Zinedine Zidane. The former French international will be a perfect fit for the role as he has won UCL multiple times and can manage egos in the dressing room. One of the biggest obstacles to bringing Zidane to PSG is that he is from Marseille and supports the club.
Besides, Marseille is a direct rival of PSG. However, recent reports suggest that Paris Saint-Germain are very close to signing Zinedine Zidane as French President Emmanuel Macron has requested him to join the club.
Major Success:
La Liga (2017,2020), UEFA Champions League (2016, 2017, 2018).
Verdict
Mauricio Pochettino's ability to manage superstar footballers such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar has been questioned. When the opponent is on the attack, neither player is reluctant to back to the defense line. In modern football, all players must defend in order to increase defensive cohesion. Aside from that, his tactical adjustments in key games for PSG haven't worked out. This is why his team was unable to go past the knockout stages in both the 2021 and 2022 Champions Leagues.
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PSG are currently on the hunt for someone who has success in the Champions League. With this in mind, the former Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane may be an excellent choice for the job. As a Real Madrid manager, he has won the Champions League three times. On the whole, Antonio Conte, Joachim Low, Thiago Motta, Thomas Tuchel, and Jose Mourinho all are eligible to bring stability in Paris Saint-Germain club as a replacement of Mauricio Pochettino. Let's see, who can finally become PSG's next head coach.