Pochettino the player: How his playing days shaped USMNT coach

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Years before coaching the U.S. men's national team in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and before managing some of the biggest clubs in world soccer, Mauricio Pochettino was known as "El Sheriff."

Marshaling his area of the pitch with an aggressive and vocal presence, the former central defender made a name for himself in the late 1990s and early 2000s as a physical and thundering enforcer. This bold personality and imposing style was seen most prominently in Spain with Espanyol, where Pochettino landed after being molded by the youth ranks of Newell's Old Boys.

Through two separate stints that marked the beginning and end of his playing career abroad, the…