27 March 2023 , 11:15
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When the axe fell, it fell at 10.20pm on a Sunday night. But in reality there had been no way back for Antonio Conte at Tottenham for the past week.
Ever since that extraordinary rant at Southampton when Conte turned on his players and openly discussed a Tottenham mentality that fans would rather he didn't, it was clear that it was always a matter of when and not if he left the club.
Now he's gone, so who next?
Well for now it is Cristian Stellini, Conte's loyal assistant, who will spearhead the coaching team alongside club stalwart Ryan Mason, but it is clear that Spurs want to make a big name managerial appointment in the summer.
We asked our Mirror Football team who they'd hire.
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Simon Bird
Join the queue to manage a selfish team, lacking heart, lacking desire. A bunch of players who have lost confidence, lost spirit, lost being a team (c. Antonio Conte).
Conte clearly had a point. So here is the task for the Spurs board. Find a collegiate, caring, confident, modern teacher of a new coach who can coax this fragile (fourth placed!) rabble into shape with sensible mature conversations… because confrontation, ranting and blaming wasn’t working.
Mauricio Pochettino would inherit many of the same problems ingrained when he left in 2019 after five and a half years.
But he seems sensible and level headed and at least he’ll have reflected on how to solve them… and knows the place inside out for quick returns.
Mike Walters
Stellini left Spain after they exited the World Cup (EFE/PA Images)First things first: Why have Tottenham left Cristian Stellini in charge following Antonio Conte's premature but inevitable exit?
Stellini did well holding the fort when the Spurs manager was hospitalised by gallbladder surgery, but surely he's Conte's man and will continue to apply Conte's strictures?
There are few examples of an assistant taking over an under-achieving team when the manager leaves - but plenty of rubble and debris by the roadside.
Steve McClaren made a mess of the legacy he inherited from Sven-Goran Eriksson with England, and Terry Connor's short-lived spell at Wolves after Mick McCarthy's sacking springs to mind.
Tempting as it must be for Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to go back to Mauricio Pochettino cap-in-hand, remind us how many trophies Poch Spice actually won in his five-and-a-half years with Spurs?
If stylish football - which appears to be the No.1 commodity for Tottenham fans, ahead of winning anything - there is a tempting alternative which would turn North London derbies into an El Clasico between Spanish coaches.
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Luis Enrique did not win a major tournament in his spell as Spain's national coach, but the football they served up was stylish, progressive and easy on the eye, ticking all the boxes among those famously critical eyes on White Hart Lane.
Spain were the best team I saw at Euro 2020 - they were desperately unlucky to lose against Italy in the semi-finals - and they only went out against Morocco at the World Cup because they passed them to death for 120 minutes without actually scoring.
For possession, artistic merit and a dash of Spanish 'cool', Enrique would fit Spurs like Cinderella's glass slipper.
Ruben Amorim's Sporting Lisbon knocked Arsenal out of the Europa League (Getty Images)John Cross
Tottenham should go for Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim.
The guy is young, smart and energetic. He would represent a fresh start, an attractive style of football and a chance to change and lift the club again.
Amorim clearly has something a bit special, he must have impressed a lot of people in beating Tottenham in the Champions League and then knocking Arsenal out of the Europa League this season.
And he would come on a high. Julian Nagelsmann is clearly going to be on Tottenham’s hit list as they wanted him before he went to Bayern Munich.
Now Nagelsmann is available and he looks favourite but you have to wonder what toll Bayern has taken on him. Whether it would still work and he would arrive on the back of a downturn.
It is so important that whoever comes in, gives Spurs the lift they need. If Nagelsmann can do that then great.
The emotional choice of course is Mauricio Pochettino. I would love to see Poch back at Spurs and the fans still sing his name.
But here’s why I think it would be a mistake to go back… it would be almost impossible to improve on what he achieved before. He was sensational. But he’ll be judged by those standards while working with an inferior squad.
Andy Dunn
The last time I checked, football was supposed to be fun but it has hardly been a laugh a minute at Tottenham since Mauricio Pochettino walked out of the door late in 2019.
More often than not, there has been a scowl on the face of Spurs supporters throughout the mainly joyless regimes of Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte.
Even when they have been winning, there has been little warmth and affection for the man in charge or the style of football played.
At the very least, that would change if Poch came back. Would it work out? Statistics suggest the odds of success are against returning managers. On average, there is a six percent drop-off in performance.
And let’s face it, Pochettino won nothing the first time around.
But the football would be better, the players would be happy and the fans would be happy.
And the last time I checked, that was what football should be all about.
Neil McLeman
Ange Postecoglou. The Greece-born Aussie, 57, might not be as young as sexy as Julian Nagelsmann or Maurico Pochettino but he does offer wit and wisdom.
And Tottenham need a new coach with experience of handling international players as well as demanding owners, fans and media.
He also has a brilliant track record in the transfer market without spending millions and producing teams playing Angeball to press and recover possession before launching deadly attacks.
Ange Postecoglou has worked wonders at Celtic (Getty Images)He has never managed in the Premier League before but he quickly proved that was not a problem in Scotland after Eddie Howe turned the job down in the summer of 2021.
Postecoglou became the first Australian coach to win a league title in Europe with Celtic last season and is on course for the treble this season and currently on a 14-match winning streak.
If Tottenham don’t take him this summer - and Leeds were linked with him after sacking Jesse Marsch - West Ham or Crystal Palace should.
Julian Nagelsmann was surprisingly sacked by Bayern Munich last week (Getty Images)Conor Mummery
Tottenham have to throw out the 'win now' strategy that has lead to their last two major managerial appointments in Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte (sorry Nuno), and start afresh with a young, hungry coach as they did with Mauricio Pochettino back in 2014.
Fans are desperate to see some front foot, attacking football and an identity they can get behind after the drab, out-dated approaches of the last three and a half years.
Julian Nagelsmann is an opportunity they cannot let slip.
The young coach was open to a move to N17 back in the summer of 2021 before Bayern swooped, and the German champions have made Daniel Levy's mind up for him with their bizarre decision to part with the 35-year-old and bring Thomas Tuchel in.
Nagelsmann would be a huge coup for Spurs, but any boss who didn't sound like he was doing the club a favour just by being there every time he spoke to the press would be a welcome change.
Kieran King
Roberto De Zerbi would be the ideal fit for me.
Tottenham fans have been crying out for some free-flowing attacking football in recent months but Antonio Conte simply didn't bring that - and nor did Jose Mourinho.
Mauricio Pochettino was the last manager to excite the Spurs fanbase with his high-pressing, forward-thinking style of play, and there are similarities between Pochettino's side and De Zerbi's Brighton.
Roberto De Zerbi has been a revelation at Brighton (PA)The Italian has only been at the Seagulls a matter of months but has taken them to a new level, building on the success Graham Potter started at the Amex Stadium.
He has turned Solly March into one of the Premier League's in-form wingers, while Kaoru Mitoma has been transformed into a powerhouse on the left-wing. In fact, De Zerbi has improved basically every single player.
Lewis Dunk was described as a 'top-five centre-back in Europe' by De Zerbi last week and the defender has come on leaps and bounds, especially in his passing ability, since the former Shakhtar Donetsk boss took over.
If he could do that at Tottenham then there is no doubt Spurs can challenge for trophies and maybe the Premier League title in future seasons. They have the players and the calibre to be much better than they are showing right now.
Darren Wells
If I were Daniel Levy I'd be looking no further than Luis Enrique for the top job at Spurs, though I suspect Julian Nagelsmann may be the favourite.
Either manager would be a superb option for a team lacking direction and identity, with fans begging for an exciting brand of football.
Under Enrique they would certainly get that. Moulded in the style of Barcelona and Spain's attractive passing game, he is truly an elite coach, having won the Champions League and managed the likes of Lionel Messi along the way - he is surely the most qualified manager available right now.
Nagelsmann would be a decent fit, too - their recent wins over PSG a real feather in his cap - and appointing him for a long-term project would also be a wise move.
A return for Pochettino would be a step backwards, though. His relationship with Levy already appears fractured and things rarely turn out as well the second time round.
Tom Victor
Spurs have tried a number of different approaches since Mauricio Pochettino left the club in 2019.
They’ve gone with a former Chelsea manager known for spiky relationships with players, and, erm, a former Chelsea manager known for spiky relationships with players. No, we’re not dwelling on Nuno’s 10 games in between.
Having missed out on Thomas Tuchel, Spurs now face the dilemma of having to bring in someone who has never managed Chelsea.
A second spell for Pochettino might be popular with some, but Julian Nagelsmann - if he’s keen on the role, and that’s a big if - feels like the right choice.
With a full pre-season to prepare, and a few weeks watching the squad under Cristian Stellini to see what’s needed, the German has the kind of preparation not everyone gets afforded.
His spell at RB Leipzig shows he can deliver with a team looking to raise itself among the big-hitters, rather than one already being there, and Spurs ought to accept that describes their position right now.
Nathan Ridley
Oliver Glasner would be a left-field choice, but has excelled at Frankfurt (Andreas Gora/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)I'm going against the grain here.
Pound for pound, perhaps Oliver Glasner is the least impressive name outside of the Premier League to be linked with the Tottenham job, but to me he feels like a sensible pick.
His appointment wouldn't fill Spurs supporters with the level of excitement of a Julian Nagelsmann or Luis Enrique, but dig deeper and supporters shouldn't be disappointed if the Eintracht Frankfurt boss emerges as Daniel Levy's preferred candidate, especially considering the string of big-name managers who've failed to cut the mustard in recent years.
Throughout his work in his native Austria and the German Bundesliga, Glasner has demonstrated that he can produce the goods without top-tier resources and, most importantly, win a trophy.
Who'd have bet on Eintracht Frankfurt to beat a resurgent Barcelona side last May and go on to end their 42-year trophy drought with a stunning Europa League triumph?
Tactically flexible, renowned for his meticulous preparation and - notably for the Spurs squad - preferring a three-man defence, the 48-year-old garnered acclaim after guiding Wolfsburg back into the Champions League within two seasons in 2021 and then headed to Frankfurt, where he's now in his second campaign.
Still in the DFB-Pokal at the quarter-final stage this term and battling for a top-four finish, Glasner fits what Tottenham - in their current tumultuous state - are after.
Dan Marsh
Sorry Brighton fans, but Roberto De Zerbi would be my pick to replace Antonio Conte.
In all honesty, I don't really envisage the likes of Julian Nagelsmann or Luis Enrique taking on the Tottenham job unless they're given the tools to challenge for top honours. And given that Conte has made it pretty clear that is definitely not the case, and that things at the top are unlikely to change anytime soon, I think Daniel Levy will be forced to look elsewhere.
Brighton have played excellent football under Roberto De Zerbi (AP)That's not necessarily a bad thing, though: De Zerbi hasn't been at the helm on the south coast for long, but he already looks like the real deal.
Graham Potter ensured his successor would have the foundations to build upon, but I'd argue that the Italian has exceeded all expectations by maintaining Brighton's impressive early season form. I don't think many people would have backed them to be joint-sixth in the table heading into Easter.
Regardless of whether or not Brighton achieve European qualification this year, De Zerbi is destined to be the next person to be poached by one of the Premier League's big guns.
He plays the type of front-foot, attacking football that Spurs fans have been calling for in recent months and I genuinely think he'd be a better option than Mauricio Pochettino, who should resist the temptation to return to his old stomping ground.
Colin Millar
Tottenham’s appointments of Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte were an abandonment of Mauricio Pochettino’s legacy at the club.
Each of those three appointments were short-term, short-sighted, based on reactionary football and ended swiftly in acrimony.
The identity of the next man in the hotseat is almost less important than the principles which guide the decision. This has to be one based on a long-term vision, of a coach who is willing to incorporate and develop young players and develop a system which runs throughout the club – not based on a handful of players over the course of a few months.
Pochettino left Tottenham in 2019 after five-and-a-half years in the job, and was last in charge of PSG (AFP via Getty Images)Julian Nagelsmann is the outstanding candidate but may – sorry, Spurs fans – see the club as a backwards step after his Bayern Munich exit. Pochettino’s return may be the most popular choice, but is he the same coach – four years on, scarred by Paris Saint-Germain and with a different group of players?
Spurs must identify an unblemished coach on an upwards curve who can inject fresh ideas, enthusiasm and, importantly for fans – positive football.
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi ticks all those boxes, but the club must not limit themselves to the Premier League. The club have several months to plan their next step and it must be guided by the right principles.
Josh O'Brien
If Antonio Conte's reign has taught Tottenham anything, it is that they must stop hiring managers who waltz around like they are doing the club a favour.
With that in mind, I think the next appointment is an obvious one: Julian Nagelsmann. Spurs seem to operate best when they are spearheaded by a young, hungry manager with something to prove.
Nagelsmann has experience, pedigree and will be aiming to bounce back from his dismissal at Bayern. He may also be keen on testing himself in the Premier League after years in the Bundesliga.
While the idea of a fairytale return Mauricio Pochettino is a moving one, the last thing Daniel Levy can afford to do right now is go over old ground. Nagelsmann represents a fresh, new, exciting chapter.
Mark Jones
I do get the Julian Nagelsmann temptation, I really do. He's young, he's hungry, he apparently used to knock around in a Spurs shirt so there would be some *great* social media content if he were appointed, and he's clearly exceptionally talented.
My worry is that this job has just come at the wrong time for him.
He's been on a seemingly unstoppable rise since he was first appointed Hoffenheim boss at the age of 28, but last week came the most devastating blow of his coaching career. Losing the biggest job in Germany will take time to get over, and time is one thing he's got loads of. He'll only be 36 in July. Roy Hodgson has pairs of shoes older than him.
Tottenham played superb football under Mauricio Pochettino (Getty Images)So I don't care what people say about never going back, I'm going for Pochettino.
Spurs fans deserve to enjoy their football again after putting up with the dated pragmatism of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, plus whatever it was that eternal pub quiz answer Nuno Espirito Santo did.
And spare me all that 'didn't win a trophy' stuff please. Pochettino's Spurs, in their 2015-2018 prime, were electric and one of the best Premier League teams to watch in the past decade. Yes they let themselves down at times but it's not their fault they were up against a financially-powered Manchester City, a rapidly evolving Liverpool or a Leicester title win that seemed like it was decreed from on high.
Whereas Nagelsmann will still be digesting his sacking, Pochettino will have been planning this for months already.
The man is a hero to a generation of fans. Get him back in and go and enjoy another wild ride.