Why a Pochettino return may tempt Tottenham this summer

Tottenham Hotspur are approaching a familiar crossroads, and once again, the name hovering in the background is Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine has never been particularly subtle about unfinished business in north London. Six months out from leading the United States at a home World Cup, Pochettino was recently asked what he still wants to achieve as a manager. The answer was revealing.

“To win the Premier League and the Champions League,” he said. “We were so close at Tottenham. I want to achieve this.”

For anyone tracking Pochettino’s career arc, it sounded less like idle ambition and more like a quiet reminder of where his heart still lies.

Pochettino has openly admitted in the past that he would welcome a return to Spurs, stating last year that he still feels “in his heart” that he would like to come back one day. Those comments have ensured his name resurfaces whenever Tottenham hit turbulence — including during difficult spells under Ange Postecoglou and now amid growing uncertainty surrounding Thomas Frank.

Frank’s position appears increasingly fragile, and another poor result could prove decisive. Internally, there is a sense that the best-case scenario may now be damage limitation until the summer rather than a long-term reset mid-season.

From a logistical standpoint, a Pochettino return would be awkward rather than seamless. He is under contract with the United States Soccer Federation, and reports suggest an early exit before the World Cup would require compensation in the region of £20m. Unless dismissed, his availability would realistically begin after the tournament.

That would place any Spurs return in July, limiting his influence over early transfer planning and pre-season. It is far from ideal — but Tottenham’s recent history suggests ideal solutions have been elusive.

Since Pochettino’s departure in 2019, Spurs have cycled through contrasting profiles. High-profile “win now” appointments in José Mourinho and Antonio Conte failed to deliver alignment. The charisma and conviction of Postecoglou did not translate into sustained results. Even Premier League-proven appointments, such as Frank and Nuno Espírito Santo, have struggled to gain traction.

What remains is the one card Spurs have not yet replayed.

Pochettino’s appeal is not tactical novelty or guaranteed silverware. In truth, his first spell showed the limits of his ability to get a team over the final hurdle. Subsequent jobs at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea did little to enhance his reputation as a serial trophy winner.

But Tottenham’s current need is not a short-term closer. It is a rebuild — cultural as much as tactical.

Few available managers possess the ability to reconnect supporters, players and hierarchy in the way Pochettino once did. His style of football resonated. His messaging united. Crucially, he understands the emotional landscape of Spurs in a way few outsiders ever truly do.

Sources close to the club suggest the Lewis family are prepared to back a more ambitious phase, potentially offering Pochettino greater financial support than during his first tenure. That context matters. So does patience — something Spurs supporters would likely extend to a familiar figure far more readily than to another reset candidate.

A return would not be without danger. For Pochettino, another Spurs stint could further complicate a legacy already dented by his Chelsea spell. For Tottenham, leaning into nostalgia risks repeating old mistakes if progress stalls.

Yet after years of disjointed identity and managerial churn, emotion may be the only remaining currency capable of stabilising the club.

More than any coach likely to be available this summer, Pochettino understands what Spurs are — and what they are not.

Tottenham’s immediate focus remains damage control and league stability, but strategic planning for the summer is already underway. If Frank’s tenure ends as expected, Spurs will face a defining decision: double down on another reinvention, or return to a figure who once made the club feel coherent again.

The gamble is obvious. So is the temptation.

Is a Pochettino reunion the reset Tottenham actually need?