MY ACCOUNT
Tottenham’s search for a permanent manager took on a new degree of urgency after Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to Brentford.
Spurs crumbled in the second half after a promising performance in the first, their powder-puff defence powerless to prevent the Bees completing a turnaround.
Disgruntled supporters turned the heat on Daniel Levy throughout the game and the chairman must deliver a thorough plan of action for any chance of redemption to be possible after a series of chaotic campaigns.
Ending a protracted search for Antonio Conte’s permanent successor would be a start, with the possibility of landing a blockbuster name still on the table.
Arne Slot
Arne Slot appears to be the frontrunner for the Tottenham job with talks for the highest-profile candidates yet to properly materialise.
Not that supporters should feel underwhelmed by the Feyenoord boss. He has led the Rotterdam outfit to just their second Eredivisie title of the 21st century this season, beating off competition from usual favourites PSV Eindhoven and Ajax.
More crucially, the attacking brand of football he coaches would be reminiscent of that which Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs team produced between 2014 and 2019.
Slot is known for his relentless high-pressing game, prioritising youth and getting the best out of players on tight budgets, all attributes he also shares with the club’s best coach of the last decade.
Julian Nagelsmann
Fresh reports state that Nagelsmann may still be in the running for the Tottenham job — contrary to previous stories ruling him out of contention.
The German seemingly wants assurances over who Levy is going to appoint as sporting director before committing but if he is open to the role then the feeling ought to be reciprocated by Spurs.
Aged only 35, the former Bayern Munich boss has the perfect blend of big-match experience and quality.
He helped a less established club punch above their weight when steering Hoffenheim into consecutive top-four finishes, before winning the Bundesliga title in his only full season in Bavaria.
His progressive football and ability to improve players was evidenced at RB Leipzig, too, and Spurs would be appointing one of the leading managers in world football should they land him.
Luis Enrique
Like Nagelsmann, Enrique would represent the kind of coup that marks Tottenham out as a club that can still dine at the top table.
The highlight of the Spaniard’s managerial career was when he inspired Barcelona — featuring the heralded front three of Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi — to the Treble in 2015.
He impressed as manager of Celta Vigo, too, and most recently led Spain to consecutive major tournament penalty shootout defeats, the first of which came at the end of a superb performance against Italy in their Euro 2020 semi-final.
Like the other candidates, Enrique would be a standout choice to revolutionise Spurs’ playing style.
Ryan Mason
Levy’s other choice would be to break the cycle of big-name external appointments entirely and allow Ryan Mason to lead his own rebuild.
The current interim boss, whose spell in charge has seen no notable uptick in results, certainly wants the job.
Mason said: “I have always said I am ready. I have remained consistent. I believe we are doing a good job in terms of what we are trying to create.”
The Englishman lacks the experience of his rivals but his appointment would lower expectations and allow for a cultural rebuild to develop away from the noise that currently surrounds the North Londoners.
