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Tottenham Hotspur are currently in possession of one of the most sought after managers in world football, Mauricio Pochettino and with rumours continuing to float around that the Argentine is set to leave the club, just who could sufficiently replace him.
With Real Madrid and Manchester United both expected to hire a new manager come the summer, the lure of either of these two European heavyweights could be enough to prise Pochettino from Spurs’ grasp, even if Daniel Levy tries his hardest not to let go of him.
Mr Levy has no doubt already taken a look at potential replacements, but in case he hasn’t, here is a list of some managers who could keep Spurs in the upper echelons of English football.
Eddie Howe
The Bournemouth manager has worked wonders on the south coast and although the Cherries have stumbled a bit since their impressive start to the season, they shouldn’t be threatened by relegation this season.
Howe has managed to get the best out of Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser, who are both in the midst of stellar seasons in the Premier League. Wilson is currently joint sixth in the scoring charts this season, having found the back of the net on nine occasions, ahead of Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino and Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku.
Scottish midfielder Fraser meanwhile is joint top of the assists chart with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. He has also chipped in with five league goals so far this season, demonstrating Howe’s ability to improve the players in his squad, rather than buy big, something that Daniel Levy will appreciate.
A young English manager with the desire to succeed could be just what Spurs need to progress from trophy hopefuls to trophy winners.
Gareth Southgate
The England manager was named as an Office of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) after guiding the England national team to their best World Cup finish since Italia 1990. By finishing in fourth place, it represents England’s joint second best finish to a World Cup and Gareth Southgate has been lauded as an England hero for achieving such a result.
Despite the fact that the World Cup didn’t come home last summer, by getting the best out of players like Harry Kane, Harry Maguire and Kieran Trippier, Southgate has proven that he is a good man manager.
Southgate would be a good choice for Spurs as he has proven he can work well with young players, something that Daniel Levy will appreciate, while he could tempt players like Dele Alli and Harry Kane to remain at White Hart Lane and reject big money moves to Europe’s elite.
A lack of club managerial experience does raise questions, as the transfer market can be tough to navigate, but if he can focus on bringing in the right youngsters at reasonable prices, Spurs’ future may be bright should Southgate take charge.
Domenico Tedesco
If Spurs wanted a young up and coming manager from the continent, then Schalke 04’s Domenico Tedesco is well worth taking a look at. The 33-year old Italian managed Erzgebirge Aue from March until June 2017, where he was able to attain a win % of 54.55. From there he moved onto Schalke, where he has remained ever since.
The German club finished in second place in the Bundesliga under Tedesco, a vast improvement on their tenth place finish the previous season when Markus Weinzierl was in charge. The Italian has guided the club through the group stage of the Champions League, where they will play Manchester City in the second round. Coming up against the favourites in the Champions League winner odds won’t be an easy task, but should Schalke topple City, then expect this man to be in high demand come the summer.
A poor domestic season may overshadow his previous exploits as manager, but having lost some key players before the start of the season and with extra games due to their participation in the Champions League, it’s hardly surprising that they’re struggling. A promising manager who has the potential to go further, Todesco could emulate Pochettino and solidify Spurs’ status as one of the top clubs in England.