It’s been a busy 24 hours in the football world, rumours were getting stronger and stronger throughout yesterday that Mauricio Pochettino was about to be sacked from Tottenham Hotspur. Very few thought that the news would drop the very same day that it was true and he was sacked. It seemed all to be very quick and coming at the end of the international break, Daniel Levy needed to have a replacement promptly.
Late last night it seemed that there was only one name being linked with the job – Jose Mourinho. It was confirmed this morning that the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager had been appointed and signed a contract until the end of the 2022-23 season.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, announcing Mourinho’s arrival, said: “In Jose we have one of the most successful managers in football.
“He has a wealth of experience, can inspire teams and is a great tactician. He has won honours at every club he has coached. We believe he will bring energy and belief to the dressing room.”
Mourinho said: “I am excited to be joining a club with such a great heritage and such passionate supporters. The quality in both the squad and the academy excites me. Working with these players is what has attracted me.”
Pochettino was appointed back in May 2014, he didn’t win a trophy in his time there but did get them to the Champions League final last season. His name has been linked to several other jobs in the last few months, mostly Real Madrid and of course Manchester United too.
Mourinho’s record is pretty formidable and whilst it didn’t work out at Manchester United, you cannot despute he will win more trophies. But that could come at a price. He is very much set in his ways and of course so can the Spurs Chairman, Daniel Levy. How these two will work together in the long-term remains to be seen.
Mourinho was sacked by the Old Trafford club in December 2018, with the club 19 points behind league leaders Liverpool, and had not managed another side before joining Spurs. He was linked with wanting Toby Alderweireld to come to United and now with this new job he will get to manage him. You can’t say that he does not inherit a good side from Pochettino but he will also have to deal with new ego’s as well as dealing with his own, the ‘special one’ is quite likely to ruffle some feathers in his new club.
Mourinho’s first match in charge is a trip to West Ham United on Saturday (12:30 GMT kick-off). Spurs go to Manchester United on the 4th December (this match is available through Amazon Prime), and host another of Mourinho’s former teams – Chelsea – on the 22nd December.
But Spurs have come a long way in recent years under Pochettino. They have a new £1bn stadium and training ground, and spent four successive seasons in the Champions League. I feel that this is a great move short-term but one of Levy or Mourinho needs to change their previous ways. Only then will we know if Mourinho is the right fit for Spurs.