Simon Jordan admits he would take Mauricio Pochettino at Crystal Palace ‘every day of the week’ but does not believe the former Tottenham Hotspur boss can command a top six Premier League job these days, speaking to talkSPORT.
Gone, it seems, are the days when Pochettino would be the first out of on anybody’s lips when the topic of a new head coach at Real Madrid, Manchester United or Barcelona was brought up.
The 50-year-old Argentine was overlooked by United prior to the appointment of Erik ten Hag last summer.
And despite winning three titles at Paris Saint-Germain – finally ending his wait for a major trophy – Pochettino arguably left the Parc des Princes in a weaker position than he arrived, struggling to put his stamp on a highly-talented and hugely expensive squad.
One that largely underwhelmed during his two year stint at the helm. Especially when finishing second behind Lille in 2020/21.
Which clubs would hire former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino these days?
“I’d be included to believe he will land back somewhere at a significant club. Now, what a significant club means is open to interpretation,” says Jordan, the former Crystal Palace owner.
“I have never viewed him as an elite manager. Undeniably, he’s a very good manager. Undeniably.
“That outrage (when he took over from Nigel Adkins at Southampton) turned to delight. He made a very good generation of Tottenham players compete at a very high level for a period of time, and I think he stole defeat from the jaws of victory with defeat in a Champions League final they didn’t turn up in.”
According to The Standard, Pochettino turned down the chance to replace Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa in October He is holding out instead for a Champions League-level position. Jordan, however, feels that a coach who’s excellent spell at Spurs ended in frustration and disappointment may have to work his way up again from lower down the ladder.
“I think elite is a term that is thrown around far too often. There can only be a few who are elite. And I don’t think he falls into that category,” Jordan adds, labelling Pochettino ‘exceptional’ rather than truly world-class.
“I don’t think he will land a ‘top six’ job. He did a very good job at Tottenham with a very good group of players. I think he’s a rung below Klopp, Conte and obviously Pep Guardiola.
“I’d have him at Crystal Palace every day of the week. But I wouldn’t have him at Manchester United or Liverpool.”
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