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Who are the three Argentines who have managed in the Premier League?

Rishabh Gupta
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Who are the Three Argentines Who Have Managed in the Premier League?

Since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, there has been a multitude of managers from an array of countries who have turned their hand to a role in England’s top flight.

Croatia, Israel, Brazil, Norway, and Chile are just some of the nationalities of the men that have held top jobs in the English Premier League.

However, surprisingly, one of the larger countries in the world with a truly epic footballing pedigree has only had three managers from that nation ply their trade in England since 1992.

We are of course talking about Argentina, but who are the men? And how did (do) they fare?

Ossie Ardiles – Tottenham

Osvaldo César Ardiles was born in the Argentine city of Cordoba in 1952 and would go on to become one of the greatest central midfielders to ever play the game.

Ardiles had his first taste of English football when he transferred from Buenos Aires club Huracan to the Lilywhites in 1978.

What followed in the next ten years would make Ardilesbecome one of the most celebrated players in Tottenham’s history with over 200 league appearances as well as a trophy haul of the FA Cup and UEFA Cup.

After guiding Swindon to fourth in the old second division (now the Championship) Ardiles won the playoffs to earn the Robins promotion to the top flight only for then to be demoted ten days later for irregular payments.

However, a couple of years later and the Argentine landed the top job at the club he was a legend at in Tottenham Hotspur the season after the Premier League came into existence.

Admittedly, his time in charge of Spurs was not a success and after guiding the Lilywhites to fifteenth in the 1993/94 season, Ardiles lasted until October the following season before being sacked.

Mauricio Pochettino – Southampton/Tottenham

Current Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino started his managerial career at La Liga outfit Espanyol and saved them from relegation when it all looked doomed.

Impressive football and a series of comfortable finishes in the Spain’s top flight started to make the rest of Europe stand up to attention with Premier League outfit the first to pounce.

On the eighth of January 2013, Pochettino was unveiled as the new Saints boss and less than a month later had Southampton beating reigning Premier League champions Manchester City and the following season guided the Saints to their highest finish in the Premier League with eighth.

In May 2014, Poch made the move to Tottenham on a five-year contract and the rest has been history.

Multiple top four finishes have ensured Spurs have become regular Champions League contenders and not for the first time under Pochettino, title challengers.

However, a trophy is still the missing piece of the jigsaw but there is still time as Pochettino looks like he is going nowhere.

Mauricio Pellegrino – Southampton

Ever since Mauricio Pochettino burst onto the Premier League scene, Southampton have been trying to find a like for like replacement and former Valencia and Alaves manager Mauricio Pellegrino was supposedly going to be the man.

Perhaps it was because they have similar names? However, it did not quite work for Pellegrino.

Nine months the man from Leones lasted with just eight wins to his name.

However, Pellegrino is a capable manager and is now plying his trade at Leganes in Spain.

About the author

Rishabh Gupta

Rishabh Gupta

A sports enthusiast. Sports, I believe, is one of the few powers which help us grow, both as an individual and society. With each day, in the rich world of sports, I grow.

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