Mauricio Pochettino will leave his job as Paris Saint-Germain’s boss a year before his deal at Parc des Princes was set to expire.
PSG hasn’t made any official announcement regarding Pochettino yet, but the manager has been told the team will go forward without him. The 50-year-old Argentinian joined PSG 18 months ago, replacing Thomas Tuchel. Pochettino failed to win the league in 2021, then conquered the French title on his second attempt. Still, the PSG hierarchy saw this as small consolation given that the club signed Messi, Ramos, Hakimi, Donnarumma, and Wijnaldum last summer, dreaming of continental success. PSG was eliminated from the Champions League last season in the Round of 16.
Pochettino was one of the candidates to replace Ralf Rangnick at Manchester United this summer, but the club finally opted for Ajax boss Erik ten Hag to take over at Old Trafford. Pochettino’s name was also taken into consideration at his former club, Tottenham, before Antonio Conte’s appointment.
At the end of April, when rumors regarding his departure from PSG were intensifying, Pochettino told French media that he was “100% staying” until the end of his contract.
Just two names really in consideration to replace Pochettino
PSG’s bosses want the team to have a new playing identity starting next season. Despite rumors linking Jose Mourinho or Roberto Mancini to the job, it’s now clear that just two coaches are in the running. Zinedine Zidane and Christophe Galtier are the names currently involved in the negotiations with PSG. Odds favor Galtier, but narrowly. The Nice boss is at -110, with Zidane, who’s free of all duties after leaving Real Madrid in 2021, at +100.
Roberto Mancini, Thiago Motta, Sergio Conceicao, and Ruben Amorim are all at +2000, while Jose Mourinho, Julen Lopetegui and Gian Piero Gasperini sit at +2500.
PSG is at -1000 to lift the Ligue 1 title next season, no matter who joins as head coach. The Paris giants were last denied the joy of winning the league by Galtier himself in 2021 when he was leading Lille.
Once more, the focus will be on European glory as PSG still dreams of glory in the Champions League. They are fourth-favorites to win in 2022-23 according to the bookies’ estimations. Manchester City tops the list at +330, with Liverpool behind at +500 and Bayern Munich third at +550. Paris sits at +600, ahead of Real Madrid at +1000.
