'It wasn't my fault!' - Mauricio Pochettino claims he missed out on Real Madrid job due to promise to Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy

When Zinedine Zidane left Los Blancos after his first stint in 2018, Pochettino was shortlisted as a candidate for the head coach role. However, things didn't pan out well and the then Tottenham manager was held back by his promise to stay until the construction of the club's new stadium was complete. Madrid president Florentino Perez then appointed Julen Lopetegui as Real's manager.

Lopetegui's spell was cut short due to poor results and Zidane was re-appointed as the coach in March 2019. USMNT head coach Pochettino, who maintained a good relationship with Levy, was under the impression that the president would give his go ahead and allow him to join Madrid. However, Pochettino was denied the opportunity.

Pochettino left Spurs in 2019, after the team struggled to perform well and found themselves 14th in the Premier League. His departure marked the end of an era in which he had led Spurs to four consecutive top-four finishes and a historic run to their first-ever Champions League final in 2019. After leaving Tottenham, Pochettino next joined Paris Saint-Germain as head coach in 2021, where he won the Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France before departing the club in 2022. 

In an interview with Chiringuito TV, the Argentine manager talks about the situation that unfolded. He said: "As a player, I had the chance to play for Madrid , but it didn't happen. As a coach, I had a couple of opportunities, but sometimes, that's how things happen in football. 

"I don't know whether to tell the story or not. Zidane is leaving and logically there's the possibility of signing for Real Madrid. Surely other coaches too. I had given Levy my word that I would stay until Tottenham's new ground was finished. At that moment I told him that I would go to Madrid if Levy gave the OK. I don't know what happened afterwards. Surely he didn't give the OK."

He added: "I don't know how Florentino Perez took it; it wasn't my fault. I wasn't out of contract. But it's never too late if the luck is right."

Pochettino's time with the USMNT since 2024 has been a mix of highs and lows; after a strong start with a win over Panama, the team suffered setbacks including a heavy loss to Mexico and a defeat in the CONCACAF Nations League, marking the worst run for the USMNT in years. Despite these challenges, Pochettino guided the team to the 2025 Gold Cup final. The future looks bright as the ex-Spurs manager continues to build depth and experience, aiming to peak for the 2026 World Cup on home soil.