PSG hire Christophe Galtier as Pochettino’s replacement

Phenomenal
Phenomenal

Mueez Ajao

– Christophe Galtier has been named Paris St-Germain manager after the departure of Mauricio Pochettino.

– Galtier has signed a two-year deal until the summer of 2024.

– He left Nice last month after guiding them to fifth in Ligue 1 and a runner-up finish in the French Cup last season.

Also Read: OFFICIAL: PSG sack Mauricio Pochettino

– The 55-year-old, who led Lille to the Ligue 1 title in 2021, is PSG’s seventh coach since the Qatari takeover of the club in 2011.

– “I am delighted to join Paris Saint-Germain, I would like to thank the chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi, [football advisor] Luis Campos and the club for their confidence in me,” he said.

– “I am fully aware of the responsibilities involved to coach this extraordinary team, which is one of the most competitive and spectacular squads in Europe.”

– Pochettino, 50, leaves PSG after just 18 months in charge having guided them to a record-equalling 10th French title last season, his first league success as a manager.

– The exit of the former Tottenham boss had been expected for almost a month now – but was only announced shortly before Galtier’s appointment was confirmed on Tuesday.

– A club statement read: “Paris Saint-Germain confirm that Mauricio Pochettino has ended his role at the club.

– “The club would like to thank Mauricio Pochettino and his staff for their work and wish them the best for the future.”

– The former PSG defender oversaw an unbeaten home record in the league this season, ending the campaign with 16 wins in 19 games.

– PSG regained the title but their last-16 Champions League exit – with Lionel Messi in the team – was seen as a major failure.

– They squandered a 2-0 aggregate lead in the Champions League against eventual champions Real Madrid to cast a serious question mark over the Argentine’s future.

– It was the first time Les Parisiens, who reached the semi-finals in 2021 and were the beaten finalists in 2020, had lost a Champions League away game after leading at half-time since 2001.

– Pochettino was sacked by Spurs in November 2019 after five years in charge of the Premier League club, months after leading them to the 2019 Champions League final.

– After taking charge of PSG in January last year, they finished second in Ligue 1 behind Galtier’s Lille and were beaten in that year’s Champions League semi-finals by Manchester City.

– However, they won the Coupe de France and the Trophee des Champions, which were the first trophies of Pochettino’s managerial career.

– The former Argentina defender began his managerial career at Espanyol and spent 18 months at Southampton before joining Tottenham in May 2014.

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