There has been a recent surge in Europe's biggest clubs hiring former players as coaches, but Argentina is not any sentimental appointment.
The PSG that Mauricio Pochettino will find when he returns to Parc des Princes as their new head coach is extremely different to the club he left as captain in 2003.
At that time , the Parisians were a fading force. that they had just finished a foreign 11th in Ligue 1, 14 points behind leaders Lyon, and been consigned to a different season without European football.
Pochettino departed the Paris without fanfare, joining Bordeaux on a free transfer. The media spotlight was focused on Ronaldinho, who had moved to Barcelona, where the Brazilian would briefly shine because the world’s outstanding player.
While which will hold symbolic value for long-standing supporters, across Europe his arrival are going to be considered a fresh signal of intent that PSG mean to renew their challenge for the game's biggest prizes.
Unlike OIe Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United, Mikel Arteta at Arsenal or Andrea Pirlo at Juventus, sentiment played no part during this decision. Pochettino has already proven himself as a coach; his affiliation with PSG is simply a bonus.
France Football added “But he also has this human side, this approach, this ability to talk to place players within the absolute best position in order that they will express themselves.
“Pochettino has this style where he manages to combine everything together you wish as a footballer. once you have a teacher like Mauricio, you would like to fight for him, play for him and benefit things for him.”
Relations with sporting director Leonardo were tender and only weakened during the transfer window, because the German sparred publicly with the 1994 World Cup winner.
When performances began to become stale over the course of the primary months of the present campaign, Tuchel's position grew increasingly frail before ultimately folding.
The timing of his dismissal, which was confirmed on December 24, may have surprised some on the surface , but this was a logical time for a change.
During the January transfer window, it's notoriously difficult to strengthen a squad while receiving value for money. Hiring the person who headed the shortlist of the many big clubs with managers in vulnerable positions.
Pochettino is renowned for having the ability to urge the foremost out of the players at his disposal. He led Tottenham to the Champions League final albeit the club hadn't signed one player during the previous two transfer windows.
What's more, over a five-year occupy Spurs, he enjoyed a win percentage altogether competitions of greater than 54 per cent, all the while playing an up-tempo, aggressive sort of football that ought to appeal to a Parisian public that demands entertainment also as success.
Meanwhile, it's hoped that his background with Newell’s Old Boys and Argentina will aid Paris Saint-Germain's attempts to convince Messi to go away Catalunya, where Pochettino still owns a house.
Of course, such dramatic managerial moves don't come without risks. There are many outstanding questions. Can the coach get the foremost from comparatively limited full-backs if he plays his preferred system?
This move, however, is one that creates sense for each side and promises to further establish PSG among Europe’s elite at a time their credibility was perhaps wavering a touch .
This may not be the Paris Saint-Germain that Pochettino left over 15 years ago – but which will only be a positive thing.