Pochettino gets pelters for sticking Zidane and Beckham at wing-back in his all-time World Cup team

Mauricio Pochettino became the subject of ridicule on social media after he named Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham as wing-backs in his all-time World Cup team on Wednesday.

The former Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham boss partook in a team-building challenge set by The Athletic, which required him to pick an all-star line-up of World Cup stars throughout history.

Pochettino, who was limited to only one player per nation in his team, chose countryman and 1986 World Cup winner Diego Maradona over Argentina's current superstar Lionel Messi.

The 50-year-old manager, who was sacked by PSG in July, strangely selected a 3-4-3 formation with France legend Zidane at left wing-back and England icon Beckham at right wing-back.

Paolo Maldini (Italy), Franz Beckenbauer (Germany) and Carles Puyol (Spain) made up Pochettino's back three, while Michael Laudrup (Denmark) anchored the midfield.

In attack, he favoured a front three of Brazilian superstar Pele, Dutch maestro Johan Cruyff and Bulgarian great Hristo Stoichkov.

Explaining his team to The Athletic, Pochettino said: 'So, the rule of my team was that only players who had finished playing were eligible — so you understand why there’s no Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, Neymar etc.

'But still you’re asking me if I’m crazy, right? Zinedine Zidane as a left wing-back? I would say: "Don’t worry". The positions will be interchangeable.

'We have three of the greatest central defenders of all time and a brilliant goalkeeper. Also, we are going to score so many goals that nobody will catch us.'

Fans swiftly took to Twitter on Wednesday to poke fun at the eccentric line-up.

One user wrote: 'Zidane and Beckham as wing backs. And this is from an actual football manager.'

A second fan posted: 'In what world is Beckham in that team! Especially in a position he never played.'

A third chimed in and said: 'Suppose it's easy to see why he's out of a job!'

Ex-England international Alan Shearer also completed the challenge and opted for a more conventional 4-3-3, deploying Zidane in attacking midfield.

The former striker, who is a BBC pundit in Qatar alongside Pochettino, snubbed Beckham from his all-time World Cup team and instead chose Bobby Moore in defence.

Lev Yashin was named between the sticks for Shearer, behind a back four of Maldini, Beckenbauer, Moore and Jose Nasazzi, with Xavi and Luka Modric joining Zidane in midfield.

Largely agreeing with Pochettino in attack, Shearer chose a front three of Pele, Cruyff and Maradona.