PSG Part Ways With Manager Pochettino After 18 Months in Charge

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v RC Lens - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - April 23, 2022 Paris St Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino reacts REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v RC Lens - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - April 23, 2022 Paris St Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino reacts REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
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PSG Part Ways With Manager Pochettino After 18 Months in Charge

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v RC Lens - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - April 23, 2022 Paris St Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino reacts REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v RC Lens - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - April 23, 2022 Paris St Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino reacts REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

Paris St Germain have parted ways with manager Mauricio Pochettino, the Ligue 1 club said on Tuesday, ending the Argentine's 18-month stint at the French champions even though he had a year left on his contract.

Pochettino, who was appointed in January 2021, won the Ligue 1 title in 2021-22 and the French Cup in 2020-21 but failed to deliver in the Champions League, the only major trophy that has eluded PSG since Qatar Sports Investment took over in 2011, according to Reuters.

Christophe Galtier is set to replace Pochettino, with club president Nasser al-Khelaifi saying last month that they were in talks with Nice, who also moved quickly to appoint former Borussia Dortmund coach Lucien Favre to succeed Galtier..

"Paris Saint-Germain confirm that Mauricio Pochettino has ended his role at the club," the club said in a statement.

"The club would like to thank Mauricio Pochettino and his staff for their work and wish them the best for the future."

PSG, eight times league winners since the takeover, were Champions League runners-up in 2020 but they were knocked out in the last 16 last season by eventual champions Real Madrid.

Pochettino came in with a strong resume after making Tottenham Hotspur perennial top-four finishers in England's Premier League and guiding them to the Champions League final in 2019.

But despite having a star-studded squad at his disposal at PSG, with Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi leading the attack, the Parisian club failed to win the other domestic trophies on offer, lifting only the league title last season.

Pochettino leaves PSG after 84 competitive games in charge, having won 55, drawn 15 and lost 14.

PSG are due to hold a media conference at Parc des Princes at 1400 CET (1200 GMT) on Tuesday.



Cristiano Ronaldo Is Almost Certain He Won’t Play at Club World Cup

 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo smiles in front of a Bayern Munich club logo during a training session ahead of the Nations League soccer final match between Spain and Portugal in Munich, Germany, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo smiles in front of a Bayern Munich club logo during a training session ahead of the Nations League soccer final match between Spain and Portugal in Munich, Germany, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP)
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Cristiano Ronaldo Is Almost Certain He Won’t Play at Club World Cup

 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo smiles in front of a Bayern Munich club logo during a training session ahead of the Nations League soccer final match between Spain and Portugal in Munich, Germany, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo smiles in front of a Bayern Munich club logo during a training session ahead of the Nations League soccer final match between Spain and Portugal in Munich, Germany, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP)

Cristiano Ronaldo says he's almost certain he will not be playing at the Club World Cup, dealing a blow to FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s hopes of having one of soccer’s biggest attractions at the tournament.

The Portugal captain confirmed Saturday that he received “quite a few” offers from participating clubs to play for them at the tournament starting June 14, but had decided against accepting any of them.

“Some things make sense to talk about, other things don’t, and, as a person says, you can’t take part in everything,” Ronaldo said. “You have to think about the short, medium and long term. It’s a decision practically made on my part not to go to the Club World Cup, but I’ve had quite a few invitations to go.”

The 40-year-old soccer legend was speaking in Munich a day before Portugal’s Nations League final against Spain.

Infantino had suggested last month that Ronaldo, who is still contracted to Saudi team Al-Nassr until the end of June, could switch to one of the 32 clubs taking part in the Club World Cup because of a unique transfer window created for the tournament.

Ronaldo did little to quell that speculation when he posted “this chapter is over” after Al-Nassr's last Saudi Pro League game of the season.

He was linked with several Club World Cup participants, including Brazil’s Palmeiras.

A switch to Al-Nassr’s crosstown rival Al-Hilal – the one Saudi club that qualified – was also mooted as a potential solution to having Ronaldo play at the tournament, where his great rival Lionel Messi will be playing with Inter Miami.

FIFA would have welcomed the boost that Ronaldo’s presence could provide for ticket sales, though such a switch to a bitter local rival for a short period would be unthinkable for players in Europe’s leagues.

Ronaldo fired Portugal into the Nations League final on Wednesday with a 2-1 win over host nation Germany.

His winning goal was his record-extending 137th for Portugal. If he plays Sunday, he will make his record-extending 221st national team appearance.