Tottenham Hotspur are set to have to look elsewhere after beloved former manager Mauricio Pochettino agreed terms with rivals Chelsea. Reports suggest that chairman Daniel Levy had looked to find out if Pochettino would be keen to return to North London. However, despite reports that the club had ‘put out feelers’ to gauge the interest both in-house and from Pochettino himself, it looks like this will not happen.
Instead, the Argentina has all but agreed a long-term deal to move to West London and work for Chelsea. That will be a dagger in the heart for many fans who assumed that the 51-year-old had eyes only for Spurs in London. While seeing him rock up at a northern entity like Newcastle United or Manchester United would have hurt, seeing him in the Stamford Bridge dugout will sting for a while yet.
However, for fans, this is not the time to worry. While they have passed up the chance to bring home a club hero, there are mitigating reasons that make sense. For one, Pochettino and Levy are known to have endured a tough relationship towards the end of his Spurs tenure. Given he has since worked for major clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, it is unlikely that Pochettino would have acquiesced as he did in the past.
Now, the club will need to take a look at some of the other names who might be on the managerial market this summer. The pain of watching Pochettino go to Chelsea will mean the club need to announce a blockbuster hire.
Having already burned through serial winners like Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, Antonio Conte, though, convincing a ‘big’ name might be tough.
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Instead, Spurs are believed to be looking at coaches with a reputation for player growth and developing projects. In a way, then, they are looking for the Pochettino they hired the first time as opposed to the coach they would be receiving today.
The name least likely, though, is that of Julian Nagelsmann. It is believed that the former FC Bayern Munich coach was put off by the void of a sporting director at the club. At the same time, there was doubt on the German’s side about the kind of signings that would be targeted. Given the way the Bayern job ended, taking on the Spurs role was seen as too big of a risk for a coach rebuilding his reputation.
The most exciting name, then, is that of Arne Slot. Having taken Feyenoord to the UEFA Conference League final, losing to Mourinho’s AS Roma, and the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals, again losing to Roma, he is a hot property. He has now followed up that European progress with domestic bliss.
Feyenoord have cantered to what is only their third league title since the 1990s. They have long been a historical powerhouse, but Slot has restored them to modern success and glory with a combination of smart signings, reclamation projects, and attacking football. For most, Slot fits every box to be ticked for the next Spurs manage. The question is, can Spurs convince him to leave a Champions League attempt with Feyenoord to come to North London?
Either way, it looks like the next few months will be filled with names, opportunities, and rumours.
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