A change in the coaching bench seems inevitable at Tottenham Hotspur in the coming months. But who would be the best candidate?
Allegedly, Antonio Conte’s fate as coach of the club was already certain before Tottenham’s Champions League exit against AC Milan.
The Italian’s north London contract expires at the end of the season and with next season’s Champions League qualification in jeopardy, Spurs fans are beginning to question Conte’s work more and more often.
The former Inter and Juventus manager was back on the sidelines for Spurs’ round of 16 second leg against Milan after recovering from gallbladder surgery. However, it remains to be seen whether a late run in the league like last season when they finished fourth remains to be seen with him.
So who do Tottenham contact when the Conte tenure comes to an end? Can any manager bring to life a club that ought to be among the best in England given the vast resources and world-class infrastructure at their disposal?
There are quite a number of candidates who could try to do just that. SPOX has looked at them and introduces them to you.
Maurice Pochettino
The man who has most decisively transformed Spurs in recent memory tops the list – Argentinian tactician and currently without club Mauricio Pochettino.
Paris Saint-Germain sacked Pochettino after failing again in the Champions League last summer. Now he is being linked with a sensational return to north London.
The 50-year-old led Tottenham to the League Cup and Champions League finals and Premier League runners-up title during his five-year tenure before being relieved of his duties in November 2019.
He has also coached three of the best players in the world there in Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, which could tempt Spurs boss Daniel Levy to give him a second chance.
Tottenham have been in decline since Pochettino’s departure. José Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Conte have all failed to deliver the consistently good results of Pochettino. A return for the Argentine could give disillusioned Spurs fans some much-needed hope.
Steve Cooper
Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper is also reportedly a candidate to succeed Conte as the Welshman has some fans in the Spurs boardroom.
The 43-year-old helped Forest rise last season and made the club competitive again in their first Premier League season in 23 years, despite having to work with a huge squad after a major upheaval in the summer.
Cooper has proven to be an accomplished coach and could give Spurs a much-needed kick in the butt. However, he signed a new three-year deal at the City Ground in October.
He and Levy probably wouldn’t be a perfect match either, as Cooper can be quite stubborn with his tactical approach and ideas, and disagreements between the two could lead to more behind-the-scenes issues.
Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel has been unemployed since he was sacked by Chelsea last September. It’s been reported he could be in for a surprise return to London – to great blues rivals.
Former Chelsea manager Conte made the same controversial decision when he was signed from Spurs in 2021. After his ugly departure, Tuchel will no longer be emotionally connected to those responsible at Stamford Bridge. He led the club to their second Champions League title, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup title.
Before joining Chelsea, Tuchel enjoyed similar success at PSG, who he led to the Champions League final for the first time. He won the Ligue 1 title twice. He also impressed at Borussia Dortmund at the beginning of his career as a top coach.
The 49-year-old undoubtedly has the CV Levy is looking for in a manager but Tuchel has reportedly often clashed with his ex-clubs over transfer plans and has not always been at ease with his players.
Still, the benefits could outweigh the risks with Tuchel and Spurs would do well to approach him quickly as rumor has it that PSG could try to bring him back in the summer.
Oliver Glasner
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Oliver Glasner is well on his way to becoming one of the best coaches in Europe.
After two successful years in Wolfsburg, he moved to the Waldstadion in 2021 and led Eintracht to an unimaginable triumph in the Europa League in his first season.
Glasner’s team is currently fighting for a place in the top four in the Bundesliga. His intelligent pressing system is said to have caught the eye of Tottenham officials.
Spurs could also see the 48-year-old as an attractive option because his contract expires in 2024, meaning they wouldn’t have to pay a hefty transfer fee to secure his services.
Roberto DeZerbi
When Graham Potter left Brighton for Chelsea earlier in the season, there were fears all his good work at the Amex would be undone.
The Seagulls’ ninth-place finish in the Premier League in the 2021/22 season was their best-ever result and former Shakhtar Donetsk manager Roberto De Zerbi should be looking to match that level.
The Italian tactician has now managed to take Brighton even higher. After 23 games, the team sit in eighth place – seven points behind fourth-placed Spurs and with three games in hand.
De Zerbi’s work on England’s south coast has impressed Spurs officials. If the Italian continues on his current course, it seems inevitable that he will move to a bigger club in the summer.
However, Spurs may be reluctant to sign the 43-year-old after a spectacular failure at Nuno Espirito Santo in the summer of 2021 following a similar move from Wolves.
Graham Potter
Next on the list is Potter himself, who has learned the hard way that when you land your dream job after years of excellence at a smaller club, all is not rosy.
Potter is arguably the only Premier League manager under more pressure than Conte following the disastrous start to his tenure at Chelsea.
Chelsea handed Potter a previously unseen five-year deal on his arrival at Stamford Bridge. However, it is already being reported that the club’s ownership group, led by Todd Boehly, could be tempted to end that deal if Potter fails to turn things around quickly.
Spurs have been mooted as a possible next club for Potter if he is sacked at Chelsea. But Potter reportedly pulled out of Tottenham before signing Nuno Espirito Santo. And he would certainly be an unpopular choice with fans given his poor record with the Blues.
Thomas Frank
De Zerbi is not the only manager to exceed expectations this season in the Premier League, as Thomas Frank is the man at Brentford who has guided his team towards European glory.
The Bees finished their first Premier League season under Frank in 13th place and have continued to improve this season despite a tight budget.
They are just three points behind Brighton and have beaten Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City this season, with Frank’s attacking 4-3-3 formation surprising many opponents.
Like De Zerbi and Cooper, Frank is one of the less experienced prospects to be Spurs captain, but he has a unique personality and his favored playing style could quickly win over the now-skeptical fans.
Massimiliano Allegri
Massimiliano Allegri is a manager who needs no introduction to Spurs fans.
The Italian tactician won 11 trophies in his first spell at Juventus, including five consecutive Serie A titles, and twice led the side to the Champions League final.
Allegri has had far less success since returning to the club in May 2021 but his coaching CV speaks for itself. And a possible reunion with Fabio Paratici could be very appealing for him.
Spurs’ current sporting director held a similar position at Juventus during Allegri’s heyday. The two are said to have a good relationship to this day.
A possible move could also be in Juve’s interests, as Bianconeri fans lost faith in Allegri long before the points were deducted over the accounting scandal.
