Mauricio Pochettino has revealed he will always be open to returning to Tottenham Hotspur as manager.However, the club have only ever made contact with him when he is unavailable.Pochettino has revealed timing has prevented him from returning to SpursGettyPochettino spent five years in charge of the north London outfit between 2014 and 2019.During that time, he achieved five successive top five finishes including two third places and a runner-up spot in the Premier League.Spurs’ second place finish under Pochettino in 2017 remains their highest league position for 63 years.He also guided the club to the final of both the League Cup and the Champions League.Of his 293 matches as manager across all competitions, Pochettino collected 160 wins at a win rate of 54.6 per cent.Only three permanent managers in the club’s 144-year history have had a higher win percentage.Why did Pochettino not return to Spurs?However, Pochettino was denied a return to the club last season due to his existing commitments with the USA.Having been appointed in 2024, he was preparing for their World Cup campaign when Spurs approached him to come back to the club.Pochettino explained: “If I were free, I would have gone back to Tottenham.“Even in the Championship. Whatever the division. Another club, no, but Tottenham, yes, of course. It’s the only club I’m always open to help.”Pochettino oversaw three successive top three finishes and a run to the Champions League final with SpursGettySpurs avoided relegation from the Premier League by just two points last season thanks to a final day victory over Everton.Roberto De Zerbi was appointed as manager in April, securing survival by picking up 11 points from the final seven matches.It could have easily been Pochettino in charge for the relegation run-in, though, with the Argentinian adding: “The problem was the timings were never the best.“When I was free, I never received a contact and then when I was working, I received a contact and then I couldn’t make the decision to come back.“It was a little bit unlucky. Maybe one day the stars will align and it will happen.”Pochettino’s post-Spurs careerPochettino instead went on to lead the USA to the last 16 of this summer’s World Cup, which they co-hosted with Canada and Mexico.Pochettino signed a new four-year deal with the USA national team in AugustGettyAlthough his deal had expired at the end of the tournament, he signed a new contract last month.The 54-year-old will now remain in charge through to the 2030 World Cup.Prior to moving into international management, Pochettino has had spells with both Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea since his Spurs exit.He spent 18 months as PSG boss following his appointment in January 2021.During that time, Pochettino won both the Ligue 1 title and the French Cup with his former side.Meanwhile, his Chelsea tenure lasted just one season, with the Blues finishing sixth in the 2023/24 season.Pochettino made headlines on Thursday for saying Tottenham should be awarded Chelsea’s 2016/17 Premier League title.