"I'll stay through December, and after that I'll probably step away." Lionel Scaloni said those words through tears after Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain — and just like that, one of international football's most successful tenures is edging toward its end.
The 48-year-old took over in an interim capacity back in August 2018. What followed was a World Cup, a Copa América, and a generation-defining run with one of football's most storied nations. Now, with his contract expiring at year's end, his own words suggest he won't be renewing it.
"I need to reset, to build another group like this one, and I don't think a group like this will come together again easily. It hurts my soul."
That last line is both a farewell and a warning to whoever comes next.
Why Pochettino is the name that makes sense
Mauricio Pochettino is the obvious candidate, and the logic stacks up quickly. He's a former Argentina international, has publicly spoken about wanting to manage his country, and arrives with experience managing elite squads at Tottenham, PSG, and Chelsea. This summer, he took the USMNT to a record-breaking World Cup — three wins, 11 goals, the most productive tournament in American football history. His contract with U.S. Soccer has expired, though talks over a renewal are reportedly at an advanced stage.
If those talks stall, or if Argentina come calling with the right offer, the pull of managing your home nation is rarely easy to ignore. Pochettino at 54 is at exactly the right stage of his career for a job like this. Argentina's title odds for the next World Cup cycle would shorten considerably with him in charge — he knows how to build tournament teams.
The other names in the frame
The AFA won't be short of options beyond Pochettino.
- Diego Simeone — After nearly 15 years at Atlético Madrid, his eventual departure from the club feels inevitable. Argentina would be the natural next step, though timing mid-season would be a problem.
- Marcelo Gallardo — Highly respected, recently available after his second departure from River Plate. His first spell there yielded 15 trophies. His return in 2024 didn't recapture that form, which raises questions about whether he's truly the right fit now.
- Eduardo Coudet — The current River Plate manager has been mentioned as a long-term candidate. Less decorated than the others, but a name that keeps surfacing.
- Pablo Aimar — Scaloni's assistant and long-time confidant. An internal promotion that would carry continuity, if not the same profile.
- Diego Placente — Currently managing Argentina's U17 and U20 sides. A development path option rather than a frontrunner.
Scaloni hasn't officially resigned. The conversation with AFA president Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia still needs to happen. But when a manager cries at a press conference and says "I'm so sorry" to the next person who takes the job, the writing is usually on the wall.
