FourFourTwo.com February 2018 97T
wo men approach the door of farm labourer Hector Pochettino’s
family home in Murphy, a nondescript town of barely 4,000
people in the Santa Fe province. It’s 2am on a chilly morning in
early 1985 and Marcelo Bielsa and Jorge Griffa – in charge of
scouting for Newell’s Old Boys’ academy – have driven more than
three hours in a battered Fiat 147 to find Hector’s 13-year-old
son, Mauricio.
They’re convinced the province contains some untapped gems for
the next generation of Newell’s. Though a defender, Pochettino Jr has
been scoring freely as a makeshift striker for his local club.
They knock at the door. A sleepy Hector answers. “Can we speak to
your son?” they excitedly ask, almost in unison.
Pochettino’s parents hurriedly wake up little Mauricio. “Look at him,
Jorge!” says Bielsa to Griffa. “He has the legs of a footballer.”
Seven years later and now the first-team manager, Bielsa gave his
protegé – who had graduated to the senior side as a strapping central
defender – some homework.
“For next Thursday, I’ll need your dossiers on San Lorenzo,” he told
the 20-year-old. “And remember: read three newspapers about their
last game, and whatever El Grafico publishes on Tuesday.”
The Newell’s stopper studied the strengths and weaknesses of San
Lorenzo, set-piece routines and how hard their forward Alberto Acosta
was to mark. Then, two days before the match, Pochettino presented
his findings – in front of the whole squad.
“It helped you find answers on the pitch,” Pochettino later recalled.
If anyone was destined to be a coach, it was Poch, and Bielsa knew
it. He was the latter’s most trusted on-field sidekick as the unfancied
Newell’s – underpinned by youth-team graduates and high-pressing
tactics – beat Boca Juniors to the Argentine title in 1991 and reached
the Copa Libertadores final the following year.
Pochettino joined Espanyol in 1994, the transfer fee initially funded
by local newspaper proprietor Jose Manuel Lara. “I’m grateful to Lara
for giving me the chance to play for a club as important as Espanyol,”
revealed Mauricio at his unveiling. “I’m strong, but I never dive in with
bad intentions.”
That comment proved to be prescient. In 10 campaigns across
two spells with Los Pericos, Pochettino picked up 13 red cards. Only
eight players have been sent off more in La Liga. But when not
suspended, Pochettino impressed. In 1996-97, the Argentine led a
back-line which shut out a Barcelona team fronted by 47-goal
Ronaldo, and in 2000 Espanyol won the Copa del Rey – a first major
honour in 60 years.
“Pochettino had great charisma in the dressing room,” his manager
Paco Flores later explained. “There was also a powerful communion
between players and fans. He saw the importance of that.”
He left for Paris Saint-Germain in January 2001, losing the Coupe de
France final in 2003 before spending six months at Bordeaux. At the
turn of the year, he took a big wage cut to return ‘home’ to Espanyol,
who were rock bottom of La Liga. They didn’t lose another game with
Pochettino at the heart of the defence.
Injuries and a bust-up with his coach Miguel Angel Lotina gradually
diminished Pochettino’s influence and he hung up his boots at the end
of the 2005-06 season, almost on a whim. However, within three years
he was back as boss, after coaching Espanyol’s women’s side.
Bielsa – who once yelled at Pochettino, “You’re a s**t of a defender!”
after he was voted La Liga’s best – couldn’t be prouder of having gone
to Murphy that early 1985 morning. “I have a profound admiration in
every aspect from footballing to personal,” said master of apprentice.
Pochettino came to English football partly to exorcise some demons.
He had fouled Michael Owen at the 2002 World Cup to help the Three
Lions seal a 1-0 victory against Argentina.
“There are some things that are so obvious, there’s no point talking
about them,” he sighed, always maintaining it wasn’t a penalty. “Take
Maradona’s Hand of God. Do you think Peter Shilton’s going to ask him
if it was handball? Everybody saw it. Owen knows it wasn’t a penalty.
There’s no point asking him about it.”HE LED A BACK-LIn E WHICH SHUT OUT
A BARCA TEAM FROn TED BY 47-GOAL
ROn ALDO, An D HELPED ESPAn YOL WIn
A FIRST MAJOR HOn OUR In 60 YEARS
MAURICIO POCHETTIn O
Words
Andrew Murray
MAnAGERS
AS PLAYERS