Mauricio Pochettino is still held in high regard by supporters of Tottenham Hotspur; of that there is no doubt.
The Argentine enjoyed a successful spell with the club between 2014 and 2019 before his acrimonious departure months on from the team's appearance in the UEFA Champions League Final.
Pochettino has taken charge of Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and the United States since then, the latter being his current post, but still feels strongly towards Spurs.
Pochettino: 'Tottenham still feels like home'
Naturally, Pochettino and Tottenham fans the world over have fond memories of club's run to the 2019 Champions League Final, which feels a far-cry from their current situation.
But, there were several other moments, including the majority of the 2016/17 campaign, under Pochettino that Spurs supporters continue to hark back to.
Before Pochettino, Tottenham had only qualified for the Champions League once in the Premier League era, in 2010. Under his management, the team qualified four seasons in a row, culminating in that 2019 final defeat, but in doing so, Pochettino had helped establish the club as a mainstay among Europe’s elite.
The pinnacle of the 'Poch era' came in 2016/17 when the club challenged for the title and secured their highest Premier League finish, ending the campaign in second place with a record 86 points.
It was the year in which Spurs bid farewell to White Hart Lane, too, going unbeaten there in the league, recording 17 wins and two draws. In the process, Tottenham conceded only 26 goals across the entire Premier League campaign, fewer than every other side.
And it was at that time Pochettino helped bring through the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Son Heung-min, facilitating their ascent to becoming modern-day Spurs icons.
"Yes, why not [go back]?" Pochettino told FourFourTwo in an exclusive interview. "If the right conditions are there, of course. Tottenham feels like home to us. We identify with the club’s idiosyncrasies, values and supporters.
"Right now it’s about enjoying the World Cup," he added. "After that, I’ve always said I came so close to winning the Premier League and Champions League, and want to try again. I’d like to be part of a project with the ambition of winning both."
Which division Tottenham are playing in next season remains to be decided, with the club teetering on the brink of relegation from the top flight for the first time since the 1970s.
Recently, the club have signed head coach Roberto De Zerbi to a long-term contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, meaning there is every chance there will not be a Spurs vacancy for some time.
Mauricio Pochettino's full interview with FourFourTwo is available in print issue 391 and on sale from Thursday, April 30.
