Things happen fairly quickly in football. I actually started putting this blog together this morning when Poch was technically still Spurs manager. There were some sources that stated he'd be given the upcoming West Ham game to save his career at Tottenham but to be quite frank that didn't make any sense. The differences between the manager and the owner had become irreconcilable and that was clearly having an effect on the dressing room. Another game regardless of the result wasn't going to change that relationship and Levy was always going to act. The fact that Arsenal, as well as potentially some other clubs, are likely to be in the market for a new coach soon probably served to bring this issue to a head.
So who's going to be the next man in charge at Spurs? I've had a look at who the bookies are suggesting are in line and created this analysis based on 5 key areas
1.Suitability of playing style
"The game is about glory" and "to dare is to do". Tottenham have a history of wanting to play attacking football that sometimes puts style above substance. A suitable manager would presumably be one who likes his team's to play a brand of football that would be appreciated by the Spurs faithful.
2. Suitability to the role
Beyond just the style of football, Spurs need to find a manager or coach that fits into their system. Levy is unlikely to tolerate too big a personality or a man who demands too much as Poch has just discovered. The perfect Tottenham manager will be able to work on a tight budget, get the most from his playing squad and potentially bring through some young players.
3. Availability
Kind of obvious, we can be linked with as many top managers as we like but if they aren't willing and able to join then it's nothing more than media speculation.
4. Reputation
As the dust settles on Poch's career most would say that he had a successful era at the club but the one massive hole in his CV remains a lack of trophies. It seems reasonable to believe that Spurs would be looking for a coach who can deliver that elusive silverware.
5. Longevity of appointment
Nothing is a given in the football management game but you feel that certain candidates would be appointed with an aim to building a squad over a period of time whereas others are more of a stop-gap to steady the ship over the next 6-18months.
Jose Mourinho
At present, the former Chelsea and United manager seems to be the bookies favourite to take over at Spurs. As my chart shows his availability is his strong point and no doubt the chance to manage in London again would be attractive to the Portuguese coach. Another appealing aspect of "The Special One" is the fact that he's delivered trophies at every club he's managed. That being said the way he has left United and Chelsea left a bitter taste in the mouths of many of their supporters and has somewhat tarnished his reputation. Given that his football ethos is largely at odds with what Spurs are about and the fact that he'd probably demand a hefty transfer budget, it seems to me that any appointment of Mourinho would only be for the short-term.
Brendan Rodgers
Leceister have been transformed in the 10 months since Rodgers arrived from Celtic and that form has already seen his name linked with a variety of positions. He certainly plays football more in keeping with the Spurs style and presumably, any appointment would be for the longer term. However, is he about to walk out on a Leicester side that have clearly taken to his approach and find themselves sitting 2nd in the league to manage a divided Spurs dressing room? In regards reputation and history Spurs might be a bigger club but Rodgers knows that he'd struggle to get any sizeable transfer budget out of Levy in much the same way that Poch did so would he really be trading up if he were to take the job right now?
Carlo Ancelotti
The man has been everywhere and won everything. He's stuck in a bizarre situation at Napoli with an owner who is far too hands-on for Ancelotti's liking and is therefore almost certainly looking for a way out. The trouble is would things be that much different at Spurs? Ancelotti is a big personality and would want control of large parts of the football club that Levy is simply not likely to give away. His recent CV also suggests that he's not a man for a long-term role and so his graph is left looking very much like that of Mourinho's with the exception that Jose is available and is already in London. AC Milan are rumoured to be prepared to offer the Italian a lifeline and perhaps he'd be more interested in making the move to Northern Italy as opposed to North London.
Eddie Howe
Is Eddie Howe destined to always be passed over for a bigger job or is it more the fact that he is quite content where he is at Bournemouth? I've put his reputation lower than any of the other names above him on this list because he hasn't won anything and yet taking Bournemouth from the basement of English League football to the Premier League is nothing short of a miracle. Let's not forget that he's done it on a tiny budget and played attractive football along the way. Certainly, the pressure and expectations of managing at Spurs would be far greater than he currently has and perhaps it's that uncertainty as to whether he can step-up that has seen teams go for other options. Personally, I think he's a very intelligent, very articulate young coach who has gotten the best out of a limited squad.
Julian Nagelsmann
The young German has won plenty of plaudits for the way his RB Leipzig side plays and it would certainly be a style that would fit the ethos at White Hart Lane. Hiring a German manager seems to be very much in vogue at the moment but despite Nagelsmann's early success, he is another coach who doesn't bring with him an experience of winning trophies. Rumours about Spurs making an approach for the Nagelsmann have grown over the last couple of days but it remains to be seen whether this is just fanciful speculation from the newspapers or based on any hard facts. Much like Rodgers, Nagelsmann would be exchanging a side sitting 2nd in its league and top of its Champions League group for one that is in 14th and struggling to find an identity. Levy would need to other a rather large carrot or 2 to secure his man.
