AC Milan Eye Pochettino After Missing Champions League

AC Milan have opened talks with Mauricio Pochettino as the Italian giants step up their search for a new manager following the dismissal of Massimiliano Allegri.

The Rossoneri are looking for a fresh direction after a disappointing campaign in Serie A, which saw them miss out on qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Pochettino, who is currently the head coach of the United States men’s national team, has emerged as one of the names being considered by the Milan hierarchy.

Naija News reports that the Argentine is preparing the US team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

According to BBC Sport on Friday, Pochettino remains fully focused on the tournament, but Milan are believed to be interested in appointing him after his contract with U.S. Soccer expires following the World Cup.

The 54-year-old has not managed a club since leaving Chelsea at the end of the 2023-24 season.

During his only season at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino guided Chelsea to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League and also led the London club to the Carabao Cup final.

Before his spell at Chelsea, he spent 18 months at Paris Saint-Germain, where he won the Ligue 1 title and the French Cup.

Pochettino is also widely remembered for his time at Tottenham Hotspur, where he spent more than five years and turned the club into a regular contender in the Premier League and Europe.

His most notable achievement at Spurs came in 2019 when he led the club to the UEFA Champions League final.

The Argentine’s managerial career has also included spells at Southampton and Espanyol. As a player, Pochettino featured as a defender and earned 20 caps for Argentina.

AC Milan decided to part ways with Allegri after the club failed to secure qualification for next season’s Champions League.

The former Serie A champions finished fifth in the league after suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Cagliari on the final day of the season.

Although Milan secured a place in the UEFA Europa League, club officials reportedly viewed the campaign as a major disappointment.

The failure to return to the Champions League for the second consecutive season is understood to have influenced the decision to dismiss Allegri.

Milan are now expected to continue assessing managerial options as they attempt to rebuild the squad and return to Europe’s elite competition.