In a revealing sit-down with FourFourTwo, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino has finally lifted the lid on a legendary encounter with Sir Alex Ferguson, a meeting that has fuelled a decade of what-ifs at Old Trafford.
The Argentine, who took the reigns of the US national side on a contract running through the 2026 World Cup, recounted how the most successful manager in British history once sought him out.
“Through the secretary of the League Managers Association, Sir Alex asked for my phone number so that we could have lunch," Pochettino told FourFourTwo.
Mauricio Pochettino wants Premier League return
"It was a meeting in London between colleagues, between a genius and an apprentice.”
The lunch, which took place years ago during Pochettino’s high-flying tenure at Tottenham Hotspur, has long been cited as the moment Manchester United first identified him as their long-term successor.
Despite those historic links which persisted through his stints at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, the stars never quite aligned for Pochettino to take the hot seat in Manchester.
The USMNT boss shared a charming anecdote from the afternoon that proved it's not just his footballing tactics that are up to scratch, it's trivia, too.
“When we asked for the bill, I wanted to take it, and so did he. We started arguing over who’d pay!
"He said, ‘Stop Mauricio, I’m going to ask you a question. If you answer correctly, you pay. If not, I’ll pay.’
"He said, ‘Name an Argentine player who scored in the 1930 World Cup final.’ I replied, ‘Stabile.’ He couldn’t believe it. The name came to me out of nowhere! In the end, I paid the bill.”
Despite his current focus on leading the USMNT into their home World Cup, Pochettino admitted an affinity for Tottenham remains a core part of his identity.
However, his most striking admission was a clear desire to eventually return to the Premier League, suggesting his work in the UK is far from finished.
"Right now it’s about enjoying the World Cup. 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."
Pochettino’s comments arrive as Manchester United face yet another summer of transition. With the club currently under interim guidance following a turbulent 2025/26 campaign, the identity of the man in the dugout next season remains a mystery.
For now, the self-proclaimed 'apprentice' remains on the international stage, but the pull of a Premier League return is unmistakable.
Mauricio Pochettino's full interview with FourFourTwo is available in print issue 391 and on sale from Thursday, April 30.
