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.



FIFA to Consider One-off Expansion to 64 Teams for 2030 World Cup

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Final - Argentina v France - Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar - December 18, 2022 General view of the World Cup trophy during the closing ceremony before the match REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Final - Argentina v France - Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar - December 18, 2022 General view of the World Cup trophy during the closing ceremony before the match REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo
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FIFA to Consider One-off Expansion to 64 Teams for 2030 World Cup

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Final - Argentina v France - Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar - December 18, 2022 General view of the World Cup trophy during the closing ceremony before the match REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Final - Argentina v France - Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar - December 18, 2022 General view of the World Cup trophy during the closing ceremony before the match REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo

Soccer's governing body FIFA is to consider expanding the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams to mark the centenary of the sport's marquee event, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

The 2030 World Cup will be held in Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, where the inaugural edition was staged, set to host three games.

The World Cup has already been expanded from 32 to 48 teams for next year's edition in the US, Mexico and Canada, Reuters reported.

The New York Times said the latest proposal from Ignacio Alonso, a delegate from Uruguay, suggesting expanding the 2030 edition to 64 nations was made at the end of a meeting.

The newspaper, which did not name its sources, said the proposal was met with 'stunned silence' by the participants.

"(FIFA president) Mr Infantino ... described the proposal as an interesting one that should be analyzed more closely," the New York Times added, according to "four people with direct knowledge of the discussions."