Mauricio Pochettino playing career: Revisiting USMNT's manager's time with Diego Maradona in Argentina

Mauricio Pochettino is best known for his tactical nous, emerging as one of the world's highest-profile coaches for the better part of a decade.

The USMNT manager is a gifted tactician. But he got his start on the other side of the parapet, making waves as an international-caliber defender who shared the field with some of the greatest players to ever trot on the field.

With that, here's a look back at Pochettino's playing career, a 17-year spectacle like few others.

2026 WORLD CUP HQ: Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup tickets

Mauricio Pochettino playing career

Before Pochettino was setting up tactics for some of the world's finest sides, he was a player, plying his trade for Newell's Old Boys, Paris Saint-Germain and, most famously, Espanyol.

A full Argentina international, Maradona got his start at La Lepra, the same side that helped forge Lionel Messi before he joined Barcelona. Pochettino spent six years in Newell Old Boys' ranks, emerging from the side's youth academy to become its star defender. Pochettino anchored Marcelo Bielsa's defense, scoring eight goals in 153 appearances for Newell's Old Boys.

The club captured the national championship and Clausura during his stint. Newell's Old Boys also reached the 1992 Copa Libertadores final, falling on penalties to Brazilian side Sao Paolo.

Pochettino's exploits at Newell's Old Boys earned him ample admirers from across top sides domestically and abroad. He landed in Catalonia, joining La Liga side Espanyol ahead of the 1994-95 season.

The Argentine defender quickly emerged as a starter for the side. He was a bulwark against opposition defenses for eight seasons in Barcelona, spread across two stints. Sandwiched between those spells was a three-year term in France, earning starts for French sides PSG and Bordeaux. Pochettino retired in 2006, stepping away from the game at the age of 34. He started his coaching career shortly thereafter.

Mauricio Pochettino-Diego Maradona relationship

Towards the end of Pochettino's time at Newell's Old Boys, he took the field alongside a famous figure: Diego Maradona.

The Argentine supernova joined the club in 1993, right before Pochettino left the club for Spain. It served as something of a full-circle moment for the future Argentina defender, who — like many Argentines — grew up admiring the diminutive playmaker. His wall was adorned with pictures of Maradona as a child. A decade later, he was Maradona's roommates, sharing a twin dwelling with his idol.

"There was always a big picture on my wall where I sleep. Every day, every night, I saw him," Pochettino said, per ESPN. "One day I meet him and then one day I sleep with him! It's so difficult to express it. It's an emotional feeling for me."

Maradona's career came with some troubles off the pitch, including a 15-month ban after failing a drug test. Despite these incidents, Pochettino still holds fond memories of his time together with the soccer great. 

"I always keep Diego in private in my mind," Pochettino said. " I love him. I love everything about him. I knew Maradona, the real Maradona. We see him on the pitch, and then there is his image. Outside it was crazy. But I promise you if he arrived here and opened the door, we'd all be in love with him.

"His energy, his personality — and he's a person that when he's with you, he makes you feel the best. He's so careful about the people around him. I learned a lot from him. He's so careful about his people."

MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:

• Printable World Cup bracket
• Expert World Cup Round of 32 predictions
• 3 sleepers to watch in World Cup knockouts
• Best teams out of the World Cup knockouts

Did Mauricio Pochettino play for Argentina?

Pochettino, indeed, played for Argentina. It took him some time to emerge as a potential candidate to start games for La Albiceleste — he had to wait until 1999 to make his Argentina debut after turning out for the country's youth side in the early 1990s.

All told, Pochettino made 20 appearances for Argentina, participating in the 1999 Copa America and 2002 World Cup.

Mauricio Pochettino teams played

Here's a look at the teams Pochettino turned out for during his glittering playing career.