Football
Dan Kilpatrick, Tottenham Correspondent 8y

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino: Not right moment for Argentina job

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Mauricio Pochettino says he is "very happy" at Tottenham Hotspur and that "this is not the right moment" for him to manage Argentina.

Pochettino, along with compatriots Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone and new Sevilla boss Jorge Sampaoli, have been linked with potentially taking charge of the Albiceleste on a part-time basis after a member of the commission currently running the nation's governing body said last week: "We could choose to install any one of the three." 

Pochettino, 44, has a contract with Tottenham until 2021 after agreeing a new five-year deal in May, and says he has no plans to answer his country's call to replace former boss Gerardo "Tata" Martino.

"I think the speculation is normal because I am an Argentinian coach at a top club in England," Pochettino said. "There are a lot of rumours that appear in the media but I am very happy at Tottenham and so for that reason this is not the right moment.

"I feel proud because my name is linked with national team in Argentina. In same way, I'm very happy here in this moment and this is not the time to move.

"I wish all the best to Sam Allardyce and the FA and English football and we hope it will work for him.

"He was appointed the day before I came here and there's no time to speak to my English international players. It's difficult for me to analyse -- I only wish him the best. It's always important for English football to be successful."

Martino stepped down in July after Argentina's defeat to Chile on penalties in the final of the Copa America Centenario -- following his captain Lionel Messi, who announced his international retirement immediately after the match.

Ex-Argentina international Pochettino joined Spurs from Southampton in May 2014 and guided the club to their highest ever Premier League finish of third last season.

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