It's no secret that Levy wanted Mauricio Pochettino back - a move for the romantics that would have been a crowd pleaser, bringing a semblance of happiness and stability back to the club. That will be the Tottenham supremo's key thinking as he weighs up his next boss - a man who has won the domestic title in five of his last seven seasons at club level.
But is there any other manager out there who has the tactical prowess to deliver trophies in their first season as well as the reputation that could convince Harry Kane to stay put? One of the greatest managers in the history of the game couldn't bring success to Spurs, how will this end any different?Ĭonte represents a risk for Levy, then. That fear of deja-vu will linger should the Italian get the keys to the kingdom. The promise of Conte is the promise of a 'win right now' manager - the sort of manager Spurs thought they were getting with Mourinho. They came second in his debut year and won the league the season after. When he arrived at Inter Milan in 2019, they had not finished higher than 4th since 2011. He took over a Chelsea team that had just finished 10th in 2015-16 and won the Premier League title the following year. With a £1billion stadium to finance, one of the best strikers in world football seeking the exit door and an expensive squad losing its value, Spurs are desperately in need of someone who can actually coach this team and help them find their groove.Ĭonte might not play the expansive football that fans crave, but he is someone who delivers quick turnarounds and transforms struggling sides into winners. News that Antonio Conte could soon be taking over proves that.īut Levy knows he is running out of time to find the right manager for this club before it starts to go stale. In this day and age - as was discovered with Mourinho - finding a coach who can do both of those things can be a tricky task. The Spurs chief has promised he is not only looking to hire someone who can build a successful team, but 'someone whose values reflect those of our club'. The dismal style of football under Mourinho left the team scrambling for a sense of identity as they plummeted down the Premier League standings and out of every major competition barring the League Cup before he was axed ahead of April's final defeat by Manchester City. Spurs as a club are known for their attacking football - but not for their silverware. 'I feel we lost sight of some key priorities and what's truly in our DNA,' he told fans ahead of the final game of last season against Aston Villa. Daniel Levy made a telling confession after dispensing with Jose Mourinho - the ninth Tottenham manager he has worked under since becoming chairman in 2001.