Mauricio Pochettino ‘Ready’ for Return to Football as He Outlines Requirements of Future Club

Former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that he is 'ready' for a return to football, and has outlined two key things he will be looking for in a future club.

The Argentine tactician has been out of football since being sacked by Spurs back in November, though speculation has been rife that a number of Premier League clubs have been interested in acquiring his services.

Pochettino still lives in London and has no desire to move, although – despite his love for the capital – he did concede he would be open to offers from abroad.

"I love England," Pochettino told Sky Sports News. "My idea is to keep living in London but at the same time, I am open to different countries, to listen and see what happens.

“I am ready and we are a much better coaching staff now. We have learnt a lot from our experiences at Espanyol, Southampton and Tottenham. We have a lot to provide to the people that will trust in us in the future."

One club that has been regularly linked with a move for the former Spurs boss is Newcastle United.

Magpies owner Mike Ashley is currently locked in takeover discussions with a Saudi Arabian based group - a takeover which would see the club become the richest in Europe.

When asked if he would be interested in any advances the north east side could make, Pochettino made it clear that there are key factors he would be looking for in any future project.

"There are two things that are most important - one is the people, the fans that are behind every club,” he added. “That is the structure that keeps alive all the companies that provide the entertainment that is football.

“The other is the ideas of the clubs. Every single club and company have different cultures, different philosophies, different ways of working. They all have different plans for success.

"To be successful at one club you need to win the Champions League or Premier League, but for others it is to finish in the top four or six. For Tottenham, it was to build a new stadium and at the same time create a team to compete and cut the gap to the top four.”

With reports suggesting Pochettino could be set for a return to England’s top division in the near future, the former Spurs boss went on to list his top three Premier League stars.

The 48-year-old said he refused to include any of his former Spurs players as it would be unfair, but he did single out some of Manchester City and Liverpool’s star men.

“De Bruyne one, Aguero another,” he listed. “The problem is it’s going to be unfair. I don’t know what I can tell you - Firmino maybe, yes. But, there’s 100 players I can describe that are nearly all my favourites.”