Where there's a project, there's usually a Mauricio Pochettino. Think Tottenham Hotspur and the success the Lilywhites very nearly had, Chelsea's billionaires, the American national team and, of course, Manchester United.

The Argentine has a track record of coming in as the deadwood removal man, transforming mediocrity into top-four competitors within a matter of a few transfer windows.

His time at Tottenham is a case study of how to fully maximise resources at a manager’s disposal. The Man United boss took the North London club all the way to Premier League title races and Champions League finals, albeit before falling at the final hurdle in heartbreaking fashion.

Upon taking over at Spurs in 2014, the former Southampton and Espanyol boss was inheriting a side that was a confusion of talented misfits and average footballing journeymen who arguably, weren’t fit for purpose.

Joining a club who were yo-yo-ing between Europa League finishes and occasionally qualifying for the Champions League, Pochettino was the catalyst that took Tottenham from a big club to a part of Europe’s elite. But where are his first Spurs starting XI now?

GK: Hugo Lloris

The passionate, forthright Frenchman was a mainstay in North London for what seemed like an eternity. The 6’2 goalkeeper signed from Lyon in 2012 and only left the club in 2023.

Having won a World Cup and a Nations League since, a trophy at domestic level sadly still eluded him. The closest that the Frenchman came to sealing glory for Spurs came in the Champions League final defeat against Liverpool.

At his best Lloris' acrobatic reflexes, bionic reaction time, and ability to read the game from his box forged a reputation for him as one of the best goalkeepers on the planet, especially under Pochettino.

RB: Kyle Naughton

Tottenham had an inexplicable habit of fielding right-backs named Kyle during the mid-2010s, with Naughton, Walker, and Walker-Peters all playing a part for the Whites at some point or another under Pochettino's rule.

It just so happened to be Kyle of the Naughton kind for Poch’s first game in charge, but the starting right-back would quickly fall out-of-favour, and arguably, didn’t make the best first impression under his new manager after being sent off in their 1-0 win over West Ham United.

Naughton would eventually head for North Wales in 2015, joining then-Premier League side, Swansea City. The player spent 10 years at the Liberty Stadium, but is currently without a club after admitting that he is 90% sure he's done with football in his late 30s.

CB: Younes Kaboul

Younes Kaboul was somewhat of a throwback at centre-half, big, bustling, and aerially dominant, the Frenchman was one of the last defenders from the school of Terry Butcher, with the blood-soaked bandage wrapped around his scarred head, all-black boots, and no-nonsense attitude, so understandably, was a natural choice as Pochettino’s first captain.

When he wasn’t injured, he was a solidifying presence at the back. However, just a short while after Pochettino’s introduction, the France international made the move up North for a short spell at Sunderland where he was part of a team that kept the Black Cats in the Premier League.

His North East stint didn't last for long, finding himself unable to resist the pull of the South, and what had been his home for the five years preceding. Heading to Watford to the tune of £4 million, the player appeared for the Hornets on just 26 occasions, before retiring thereafter.

CB: Eric Dier

Along with his old pal, Hugo, Eric Dier enjoyed a long stint at Tottenham. Pochettino's debut was also, in fact, Dier’s debut for the Lilywhites, and one where he certainly endeared himself to his new support, being the only player on the scoresheet in the 1-0 win.

The Englishman spent as many as 10 years in North London, before securing a surprise move to Bayern Munich. It was there that he linked up with former teammate Harry Kane to win the Bundesliga. Since then, Dier has swapped Munich for Monaco, who he joined in 2025.

LB: Danny Rose

Danny Rose’s career started with a very literal bang, with a scorching volley against old foes, Arsenal in a 2-1 win. It could be argued the left-back peaked too soon, but the fact he was a Poch-favourite and a continued selection for the England squad perhaps attested otherwise.

After that infamous meeting with manager, Jose Mourinho captured on the All or Nothing Amazon Prime sports docuseries, the boy from Doncaster’s career seemingly fizzled out following a string of second-rate moves to Newcastle and Watford, before retiring in 2022.

CM: Etienne Capoue

The Niort-born former French international was one of the duds signed with the world-record fee of £85 million the club secured for Gareth Bale. In what transpired to be an underwhelming acquisition, the defensive midfielder’s £9.5 million transfer flattered to deceive in a Spurs shirt.

The player appeared for Tottenham on just 36 occasions during his two-year stint in North London. Since then, Capoue has gone on to play for both Watford and Villareal, starring in the latter’s Europa League win over Manchester United in 2021, before retiring in 2024.

CM: Nabil Bentaleb

Like that of his midfield counterpart, Nabil Bentaleb’s Spurs career was short-lived, moving on in 2016 with a loan move to Schalke, followed by a permanent move to the then-Bundesliga club.

After a brief loan back in England at Newcastle, the midfielder found a more permanent home with Ligue 2 side, Angers before climbing back up to the top-flight by joining LOSC Lille, where he has been since 2023.

Now in his 30s, the midfielder has come full-circle and may well end his career in France.

RM: Christian Eriksen

Christian Eriksen presents one of the more intriguing tales in this Spurs XI. The attacking midfielder was a shining light during Pochettino’s tenure.

An expert passer, peerless playmaker, and visionary footballer, the Dane was one of the standout players in the Tottenham team that made it to the Champions League final and challenged for the league title.

Departing Hotspur Way shortly after his former manager, Eriksen joined up with Italian giants, Inter in 2020. After an unremarkable start to his Italian campaign, a chain of events followed that were by their very definition, remarkable.

Collapsing on the pitch in Denmark’s Euro 2020 opener due to a near-fatal heart attack, Eriksen was essentially dead for five minutes, with his teammates and home crowd watching on with their mouths agape. Resuscitated by medics, the former Tottenham man made a miraculous recovery and was fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.

Since then, the Dane has enjoyed spells at Brentford, Man United and Wolfsburg, but is currently without a club after collapsing again in 2026.

LM: Aaron Lennon

There was an air of world-beater about Aaron Lennon when he got going. A fullback’s worst nightmare the tricky, explosive winger had a killer delivery, and an immense low centre of gravity allowing him to almost glide between defenders.

The player left Tottenham in 2015, joining Everton and then Burnley. Lennon announced his retirement in 2022, regularly speaks about his experiences with mental health issues, and has taken it upon himself to raise awareness around a topic that has become increasingly less taboo.

CAM: Erik Lamela

“Everywhere you go, always take Lamela with you” was an inspired chant to the tune of Crowded House’s 1991 hit, Weather With You.

The left midfielder has bags of natural flair, and an over-abundance of ability. However, a mixture of inconsistency and a procession of injuries meant that White Hart Lane rarely got to see the Argentinian midfielder at the peak of his powers.

Lamela left on a free transfer in 2021, joining Sevilla where he won the Europa League, before joining AEK Athens and then retiring.

His football story didn't end there, however. The former Spurs man went onto become the assistant manager back at Sevilla in 2025 and then took on the same role at Monterrey in 2026, joining up with Matias Almeyda twice.