Tottenham Hostpur boss Mauricio Pochettino reveals mentor Marcelo Bielsa signed him in his sleep as a teen
MAURICIO POCHETTINO has revealed the unusual lengths his mentor Marcelo Bielsa went to before giving the Tottenham manager his break – signing him in his SLEEP.
Bielsa, 61, who would go on to manage Pochettino at Newell’s Old Boys, Espanyol and with the Argentina national team, arrived at Pochettino household for a meeting in 1985 when working in youth development.
Mauricio Pochettino was signed in his sleep as a 13-year-old by Marcelo BielsaGetty ImagesMauricio Pochettino was an Argentina international and dedicates his career to BielsaGetty Images
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He allegedly arrived at 2am Bielsa to meet his parents, finding a sleeping Pochettino, then aged 13, before unusually asking if could see the child’s legs.
Bielsa then declared he looked like a footballer and signed him on the spot.
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Confirming the tall tale, Pochettino said: “Yes, that was the reality. I woke up in the morning and my mum explained the story.
“I said: ‘Yeah come on, it was in your dream. What did you drink before you went to sleep?’
“Sometimes you need to take risks. In that moment, they trusted in a person who lived in the area. They believed, and they took a risk, and they travelled to my town.
And they were very brave, because at 2 o’clock in the morning to knock on the door of a house in the middle of nowhere, you risk yourself – some dog could come and bite you – they were very brave and it’s a special story.”
Marcelo Bielsa was manager of Lazio for just two days earlier this yearGetty Images
Pochettino has often cited former Chile boss Bielsa as a role model in his career, along with Pep Guardiola, who once named the Argentine “the best coach in the world”.
Both manager’s distinctive high-pressing style was inspired by the man nicknamed El Loco – but Bielsa’s last role was not so successful, quitting Italian side Lazio just two days after he was announced back in July – before being favourite for the Swansea job, eventually taken by Bob Bradley.
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