Wanyama opens up on his special relationship with former Spurs manager Pochettino
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 02.02.26. | 19:03
The 34-year-old worked with Pochettino at both Southampton and Tottenham
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has opened up on his time playing under Mauricio Pochettino, describing the period as the best football of his career.
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Wanyama, who worked with Pochettino at both Southampton and Tottenham, highlighted the Argentine coach’s man-management skills and the demanding environment created by his technical staff, particularly long-time assistant Jesús Pérez.
“Pochettino was a great man-manager. He was always patting players on the shoulder and encouraging them, but his assistant was much more hands-on.
When things went wrong, the assistant would get very angry, and the players were actually more afraid of him than the manager,” he told the Obi One podcast.
Pérez has served as Pochettino’s assistant since 2010, working with him at Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and currently with the U.S. Men’s National Team.
For Wanyama, the contrast between the two coaches helped maintain balance within the squad.
“He would easily lose his temper and give everyone the ‘hairdryer treatment’, but Pochettino would always step in and tell us not to worry.
Even after a loss, he made us feel important and ready to go again,” he added.
Wanyama’s professional career began at JMJ Youth Academy before joining AFC Leopards.
His performances earned him a move to Europe, and in 2013, he joined Southampton from Celtic for €14.5 million, approximately Ksh2.262 billion, a record transfer fee for a player leaving Scotland at the time.
During his three seasons at Southampton, Wanyama established himself as one of the Premier League’s most reliable defensive midfielders and was part of the squad that achieved the club’s highest-ever league finish in the 2015/16 season.
In July 2016, he reunited with Pochettino after signing for Tottenham Hotspur for £11 million, approximately Ksh2.255 billion.
At Spurs, Wanyama played a key role in the club’s rise, including their run to the UEFA Champions League final in 2019, where they lost to Liverpool.
Reflecting on that period, Wanyama noted that missed opportunities ultimately proved costly.
“We had a good team, but sometimes we were losing games we really shouldn’t have lost. When you drop points, and your rivals keep winning, the pressure builds, and things become difficult,” he offered.
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Injuries later curtailed his time at Tottenham, significantly reducing his appearances. After leaving the club, he had further spells away from England, with CF Montreal and most recently with Dunfermline Athletic.
By mid-2025, Wanyama found himself without a club following his exit from the Canadian side.
“All in all, we tried and gave everything, but it just didn’t work out the way we wanted,” Wanyama said.
