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England captain Harry Kane has described Mauricio Pochettino as a “fantastic manager” amidst reports that his former Tottenham Hotspur boss is closing in on the Manchester United job.
Pochettino Linked with Manchester United Role
Pochettino has reportedly agreed to terms to become the next manager at Old Trafford. The potential appointment comes as Manchester United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive officer Omar Berrada, and director of football Jason Wilcox conduct meetings in Monaco, with current manager Michael Carrick expected to be dismissed following the conclusion of the talks.
Kane played under Pochettino at Tottenham, where the team finished second in the Premier League in 2017 and reached the Champions League final in 2019. Speaking ahead of earning his record-breaking 126th England cap against Croatia at Wembley, the Bayern Munich striker offered high praise for his former coach.
“Me and Mauricio have a fantastic relationship. I mentioned him as one of the managers who had a big impact on my career,” said Kane. “I needed his guidance. He pushed me on and off the pitch which was really helpful.”
Kane described Pochettino as a top-level manager who has led some of the largest clubs in world football, adding that while everyone must wait to see the final outcome, he regards the Argentine as both a great person and an exceptional coach.
National Team Ambitions and Trophy Targets
The 33-year-old striker enters the international window following a successful period in which he won the 2026 Ballon d’Or and claimed the Bundesliga title in his second year with Bayern Munich. Kane previously suffered back-to-back European Championship final defeats with England against Italy in 2021 and Spain in 2024.
Reflecting on those tournament setbacks, Kane admitted that dealing with losses in major finals was frustrating, but noted that his game has reached its highest level in recent seasons. He emphasized that winning a major international trophy, such as a World Cup or European Championship, remains his primary ambition with the national squad.
Praise for Emerging Forward Will Lankshear
Kane also addressed the discussion surrounding potential future successors in the England attack, singling out Middlesbrough forward Will Lankshear. The 21-year-old, who moved to Teesside from Tottenham in the summer, has scored 13 goals in 13 Championship appearances this season.
Kane noted that Lankshear possesses strong goalscoring instincts and stated that his current regular playing time at Middlesbrough is ideal for his development. He added that any potential call-up to the senior England squad remains a decision for national team manager Thomas Tuchel, emphasizing that the young forward should be given time to progress without unnecessary pressure.
