DeAndre Yedlin, Cameron Carter-Vickers and the USMNT players who have played under Mauricio Pochettino

Yedlin's move from Seattle to north London was massive. It was a reward for his 2014 World Cup heroics, which saw him go toe-to-toe with Eden Hazard on the biggest stage. Pochettino, though, always knew Yedlin was a bit of a project at Spurs.

"DeAndre is newly arrived in London and, like all young players, requires a process of adaptation, to learn a new way, to learn a new culture," Pochettino said at the time. 'We have to go carefully, quietly, giving time to settle both on and off the field so they may, from there, show their qualities. But obviously if he's here it is because we expect a lot from him."

Yedlin never broke through at Spurs. He made just one appearance before a loan to Sunderland, which then earned him a move to Newcastle. He became a regular for the Magpies shortly after, establishing himself in the Premier League, even if it never really came under Poch's watch at Tottenham.

The right-back, of course, went on to have a full USMNT career, featuring 81 times for the U.S. while earning a spot in the 2022 World Cup squad.

The other 2022 World Cup participant that overlapped with Poch, Carter-Vickers' career got started during the Argentine's time at Spurs.

Carter-Vickers made just five appearances, all in cup matches, during his Tottenham career. He spent most of that time out on loan, joining seven different clubs before eventually settling at Celtic.

Pochettino, though, did think highly of him during his Spurs tenure, saying that he believed that CCV "will be one of thebest centerbacks in England" at some point. The coach got a first-hand look at that, too, when he hopped into a training session and was actually injured by the American defender.

“I did it today again," Pochettino told the Telegraph. "I challenged with Cameron and hurt my hand. He crushed everyone in the box."

Carter-Vickers has been dominant at Celtic, winning three league titles (2022, 2023, 2024). For the national team, he has yet to lock down a consistent starting role, but that could change with Pochettino at the helm.

By far the most accomplished player on this list, Friedel is a USMNT legend whose career overlapped with Pochettino's in his final years as a player. Pochettino arrived for what was Friedel's final campaign in a two-decade-long career and the American did not make a single appearance under the Argentinian coach.

Despite their relatively short time together, Friedel, who went on to be a head coach himself with the New England Revolution, credits Pochettino as a major influence on how he sees the game.

“He’s one of the very best out there and I have no problem saying that,” Friedel said back in 2017. “His attention to detail and what I was able to see and learn from him, was priceless. The best way to describe it is, yes, he knows the tactics that he wants to play, and yes he knows how to implement them in training, but it’s all the extracurriculars around being a head coach that he manages himself, his staff, and all around him so well.

“I’m not surprised he’s doing so well, and the players have a bigger value than when he came into the changing room. I expect him to be a very good coach for a very long time.”

Pochettino wasn't at Southampton for long but, during his time there, he overlapped with a young Cody Cropper.

The goalkeeper, who went on to play in MLS for the New England Revolution, Houston Dynamo, FC Cincinnati and Vancouver Whitecaps, was a U.S. youth national team goalkeeper at the time trying to make his way through the Saints academy. He generally trained with the youth teams but, during Pochettino's year with the club, he did get chances to work with the senior group.

“Being with this coaching staff, with manager Mauricio Pochettino and goalkeeping coach Toni Jimenez, I think the philosophy they bring has helped me out a lot in developing into more of a goalkeeper that can use his feet and play out into the system they play," Cropper told American Soccer Now in 2014. "It brings youth into the first team and the way they play has them competing against some of the best teams in the world. Being involved in that is incredible.”

Cropper retired from the sport in 2023 and is now coaching at the college level with St. Thomas.

The third and final goalkeeper of this list, Austin remains with Tottenham to this day. Years ago, though, he was an academy product looking to impress Pochettino on a preseason tour.

Austin, who played for the U.S. up to the U18 level, was brought on Spurs preseason tour of the U.S. in 2017 while part of the club's youth teams. It was a special moment for the goalkeeper, who relished his chance to prove himself.

“It’s been really good,” Austin said at the time. “Firstly, obviously, being out here with the first team and learning what I can from all of the lads here. It's been a really good experience so far."

Austin never really broke through under Pochettino. He made the bench a few times and went out on loan to Viborg FF and Orlando City following Pochettino's tenure. He's now back at Tottenham, though, backing up starter Guglielmo Vicario.

The former U.S. U23 international is another player that briefly encountered Pochettino during the early days of his career.

Ariyibi is a Southampton youth product, and his departure from the club came under Poch's watch. He was released by the club in 2013, prompting a move to Leeds United that began a long and winding senior career.

“I started my career at Southampton and I was in the same age group as Luke Shaw, James Ward-Prowse, Calum Chambers and Harrison Reed," Ariyibi said in 2019 after joining Motherwell. "We all grew up and it was a good set-up. It was a good Academy system but I didn’t have many dealings with Mauricio Pochettino as I was let go as a second-year scholar and worked my way up from there.

“Football is all about opportunities and everyone starts at a different time so for me it’s important to pick up my career and get to where I need to be."

Ariyibi is currently playing in Turkey for Ankara Keciorengucu, having preciously played in both England and Greece.

He was the only American at Chelsea during Pochettino's tenure and, to be fair, he wasn't there very long.

Pochettino took charge of the Blues in July and, by mid-August, Slonina was sent out on loan to Eupen for a season of European seasoning. Pochettino, though, did say he saw signs of Slonina's potential during their brief time working together.

"I think he is a young player that came from Chicago," Pochettino said. "Of course I need to see more because he met us here on the tour, similar to Lesley [Ugochukwu]. We need more time to discover how they are and of course, if the club signs, it's because they believe in him and that he is a great talent and we need to decide if it is better to continue with us or what is the best way for him to grow and be one of the greatest keepers in the world."

Slonina is spending this season on loan once again, having joined Barnsley in League One.