Mauricio Pochettino, New Southampton Manager, Profiled

Who Is Mauricio Pochettino?

Mauricio Pochettino, today announced as the new Southampton manager after Nigel Adkins was sacked, is best known to English football supporters for his role in the 2002 World Cup.

A starter in defence for Argentina, Pochettino was adjudged to have fouled Michael Owen in the area by Pierluigi Collina in their second group game with England.

David Beckham smashed his penalty in and England went on to defend their 1-0 lead for one of their greatest World Cup victories. Owen would admit 14 years later he dived.

Argentina and Pochettino, the favourites prior to the tournament, were eliminated after they drew their final group game with Sweden 1-1. It would be the last year Pochettino played for his country.

Pochettino played the majority of his career in France and Spain as he turned out for Paris Saint-Germain, Bordeaux and Espanyol, the first European team he joined from Newell's Old Boys in 1994.

Espanyol became Pochettino's first and, until he joined Southampton, only club he managed when he was appointed by the Catalan club in 2009.

After nearly four years of sustaining the club's Primera Liga status he was sacked in November last year after a home defeat to Getafe. The club are currently 16th.

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