Remembering Mauricio Pochettino's High-Profile Teammates From His Time at PSG

Having spent months seemingly hanging around outside Old Trafford (not Peter Odemwingie style, but metaphorically at least) waiting for the Manchester United job to become available, it seems Mauricio Pochettino is set to be named the new manager of Paris Saint-Germain.

Thomas Tuchel's departure from Parc des Princes means the top job at last season's Champions League finalists is up for grabs, and the former Tottenham boss is the hot favourite for the post.

The Argentinian spent two and a half seasons with PSG during his playing career, and in that time he shared a dressing room with some stellar names. Take a look at our list of the most memorable players from Pochettino's spell in Paris.

1. Gabriel Heinze

The Argentina international played in Paris before a move to England / FRANCOIS GUILLOT/Getty Images

Gabriel Heinze spent three years in the French capital prior to his move to Manchester United, two of which were spent alongside Pochettino.

The left-back was a mainstay in the side which tasted Intertoto Cup success in 2001, though there was to be no further silverware during his time in France and he moved onto the Premier League in 2004.

Heinze would return to Lique 1 in 2009 with Marseille where he was crowned a Ligue 1 champion in his maiden season back in the country.

2. Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho's first European club was PSG / JACQUES DEMARTHON/Getty Images

Oh yeah, him.

The Brazilian's first club in Europe was the French giants and he spent two season at Parc des Princes.

Ronaldinho scored 25 goals in his 77 appearances for PSG before switching to Barcelona in 2003. He didn't do too badly in Spain, notching two top-flight titles, a Champions League and being named the Ballon d'Or winner in 2005.

3. Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta spent 18 months with PSG / FRANCOIS GUILLOT/Getty Images

Has he aged at all in the last 19 years?

Having come through the Barcelona youth setup, Arteta struggled to make an impact in Catalunya and was shipped out to PSG on an 18-month loan.

The Lique 1 side were keen to sign Arteta after he'd impressed in a playmaker role in the 2000/01 and 2001/02 campaigns, though Rangers usurped the French side's offer and Arteta moved to Scotland instead.

Wonder what he's doing now?

4. Nicolas Anelka

Anelka up against Milan / OLIVIER MORIN/Getty Images

Well, there aren't many teams in Europe this man hasn't played for, so chances are he was at PSG at some point in his career.

Anelka spent two spells in the French capital, firstly in the mid-90s before he was snapped up by a certain Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, before moving back to Paris after his ill-fated move to Real Madrid.

Le Sulk only spent a year with Pochettino before he was yet again on the move, as he joined Liverpool on loan for half a season before completing a permanent move to Manchester City in the summer.

5. Jay-Jay Okocha

Jay-Jay Okocha spent four years in France / GERARD CERLES/Getty Images

So good they named him twice, though when you realise his name isn't Jay-Jay at all - it's actually Augustine - you're left feeling a little bit empty.

Anyway, forget we said that.

Okocha was one of the gems in PSG's brilliant side of the early-2000s, scoring 12 goals in 84 appearances for the club before one of the most random moves ever as he joined Bolton Wanderers. The lure of Big Sam, ey?

6. Laurent Robert

Laurent Robert moved from PSG to Newcastle in 2001 / Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Alright, so he's a bit rubbish [editor's note: this is not a universal view] but we've included him anyway because he can kick a football quite hard and he once knocked out a teammate in doing so (search 'Olivier Bernard' on Twitter if you don't believe us).

The enigmatic Frenchman spent two years at PSG, the last six months of which he was joined by Pochettino, before he decided to swap Paris for Newcastle. Which is a bit weird.