U.S. Soccer announces five additions to USMNT technical and high performance staffs
CHICAGO – U.S. Soccer has announced five additions to the U.S. Men’s National Team technical and high performance staffs as new head coach Mauricio Pochettino begins his first training camp leading the USMNT.
Many of the coaches joining the project have worked closely with Pochettino for the majority of his successful career at the highest levels of the European soccer, including successful tenures at Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
Under his leadership, Tottenham reached its first UEFA Champions League Final in 2019 and the coaches guided PSG to the 2021-22 Ligue 1 title, the 2022 Coupe de France, the 2021 Trophée des Champions and the 2021 Champions League Semifinals.
“I speak for our entire staff when I say we are very excited and proud to have this opportunity to work with these players and the U.S. Men’s National Team,” said Pochettino. “Together, we have a lot of experience and a very clear way of working. We’re going to take that experience, get to know these guys as people and players, share our knowledge, and together as a united group help this team accomplish our goals.”
Jesus Perez will serve as Pochettino’s first assistant coach. Perez joined Pochettino as an analyst early in his tenure at Espanyol – the head coach’s first managerial job in Europe – before becoming an assistant coach. He has since supported Pochettino at each successive stop on the European club circuit.
Miguel “Miki” D’Agostino will also serve as an assistant coach. D’Agostino similarly joined Pochettino early in his time at Espanyol before following the manager to his appointments at each top European club appointment that followed. He played with Pochettino for Newell’s Old Boys in their native Argentina in the 1990s and spent five years coaching in France as well as a season in the United Arab Emirates before joining Pochettino’s staff at Espanyol.
Antonio “Toni” Jimenez will be the USMNT goalkeepers coach. A gold medalist with Spain at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, he made more than 350 appearances during his professional goalkeeping career in Spain. After joining Pochettino at Espanyol in 2011, he has also accompanied the manager throughout Europe.
Sebastiano Pochettino will serve as a sport scientist with the USMNT. He has worked under his father since 2016 at Tottenham Hotspur and became one of the Premier League’s youngest sport scientists the following year. The younger Pochettino proceeded to join his father during his stints at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
Silvia Tuya Viñasis a new addition to Pochettino’s staff and will serve as the USMNT’s strength and conditioning coach. A PhD in sport science, she most recently worked with FC Levante Badalona in Liga F, Spain’s top tier of women’s professional soccer, and has also served as a lecturer at the National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia at the University of Barcelona.
As part of the transition, U.S. Soccer and Vincent Cavin have mutually agreed to part ways. U.S. Soccer would like to thank Vincent for his important contributions and his commitment to the Men’s National Team during this past year.
