Paris Saint-Germain have announced that Mauricio Pochettino has been named as their new manager on a contract that will last until 2022.
Pochettino replaces Thomas Tuchel, who was sacked on Christmas Eve after a 4-0 win over Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
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Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Pochettino takes over with PSG in third place in Ligue 1, a point behind Lyon and Lille.
“I’m very happy & honored,” Pochettino said. “I would like to thank the club’s management for their trust.
“As you know, this club has always had a special place in my heart. I have wonderful memories. I will return to the club today with a lot of ambition and humility.”
PSG chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaïfi addedL “We are delighted to welcome Mauricio Pochettino as the team’s first coach. I am proud to see our former captain return to Paris Saint-Germain, as the club has always been his home.
“Mauricio’s return fits in perfectly with our ambitions and will be another exciting chapter for the club and one thing I am sure the fans will enjoy. With the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino, Paris Saint-Germain are committed to building and moving the club forward over the coming years. “
Sources told ESPN he had been in talks with the French winners for a fortnight before his appointment.
Welcome Mauricio Pochettino 👋 pic.twitter.com/sMXDA7p5Hh
– Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) January 2, 2021
The Argentine spent two years of his playing career at PSG, where he won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2001.
With Ligue 1 on the winter break, Pochettino’s first game against Saint-Etienne comes on January 6 ahead of the Champions League 16 match against Barcelona.