The U.S. men's soccer team finally has a new coach, but the hire was made in a way that mimicked a coaching change in college football.
Mauricio Pochettino has been named the new head coach of the United States men's national team after being rumored for months to be the leading candidate for the job.
The press release announcing the hire included an intriguing footnote declaring that the firm was “supported in large part by a philanthropic leadership gift” from Citadel’s founder and CEO, billionaire hedge fund investor Ken Griffin.
Griffin's net worth of $41.8 billion makes him the 34th richest person in the world, according to the latest estimates from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
The exact amount Griffin donated to support the coaching hire was not disclosed, but the press release also noted that Diameter co-founder and managing partner Scott Goodwin and “several” companies supported Pochettino's hiring.
While it's common in college sports for university benefactors to guarantee the hiring (and buy out) of head coaches, inviting head coaches to international tournaments is new territory, at least in the United States.
Griffin previously $5 million to the U.S. Soccer Federation for Miami-area youth soccer fields;
The 52-year-old Pochettino will be Chelsea manager until 2023-2024, having previously managed Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur.
He replaces Gregg Berhalter, who was fired in July following a disappointing performance in the Copa America.
“My decision to join U.S. Soccer was not just about soccer for me; it was about the journey of this team and this country,” Pochettino said in a statement.
“It's the energy, passion and hunger to accomplish something truly historic here that inspires me. The opportunity to lead the U.S. Men's National Team in front of fans who are as passionate as the players is an opportunity I couldn't pass up. We have a group of players full of talent and potential, and together we will build something special that the entire country can be proud of.”
