The former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain coach, Mauricio Pochettino’s new managerial job has been confirmed, but to everyone’s surprise, it is not going where everyone was expecting (i.e., at Chelsea). The Argentine has signed up to manage the Soccer Aid World XI FC against England next month.
On May 19, the official Twitter account of Soccer Aid made an announcement in which they revealed the World XI FC manager to be Pochettino amid Chelsea rumours. His team will take on England in an annual charity match, which will feature a host of former footballers and celebrities taking the field to raise money for UNICEF.
Some of the big names set to appear are Usain Bolt, Stormzy, Gabriel Batistuta, Tommy Fury, Hernan Crespo, Lee Mack, Francesco Totti, Sir Mo Farah, and Paul Scholes, among others.
The Old Trafford will be the venue for the next managerial venture for Pochettino on June 11, since his sacking by Paris Saint-Germain last summer. With that, Stamford Bridge will have to wait a bit longer for him to appear on the touchline as the Chelsea manager.
Talking about the charity match, the 51-year-old remarked, “I am really looking forward to getting involved in Soccer Aid this year and managing the World XI.”
“It is a real pleasure to be part of a match that represents a big cultural moment in this country’s annual calendar, and rightly so, because it raises so much money for UNICEF,” said Pochettino.
He also talked about all things English football and how he wants to experience it all once again on June 11. The incoming Chelsea manager opined, “I love English football stadiums, the passion the fans show for the game, and the atmosphere they create, so it will be great to feel that again next month.”