Tottenham Hotspur is facing a crisis of leadership as they continue searching for a new manager after Arne Slot, the Feyenoord boss widely tipped to take over, decided to stay in the Netherlands and sign a new contract with his current club.
Slot shocks Spurs with Feyenoord loyalty
Slot, who led Feyenoord to their first Eredivisie title in 10 years this season, was in advanced talks with Tottenham and was expected to replace Antonio Conte, who was sacked in March following a dismal campaign and a public row with the club hierarchy. However, in a stunning twist, Slot announced that he had a change of heart and wanted to remain at Feyenoord, where he said he felt at home and had unfinished business. He also expressed his gratitude for the club’s and fans’ trust and support.
Slot’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, had reportedly agreed terms with Tottenham and indicated that her client was keen to move to north London this summer. Tottenham were also prepared to pay Feyenoord £6 million in compensation for Slot’s services. But Slot’s sudden U-turn left Tottenham stunned and embarrassed, as they had to scrap their plans and look elsewhere for a new manager.
Spurs in turmoil as manager search drags on
Tottenham’s failure to land Slot is the latest setback in their long and chaotic quest for a new manager, which has seen them miss out on several other candidates and lose their director of football along the way.
Tottenham have been without a permanent manager since Conte’s departure on March 26, when he left after a 2-1 defeat at Southampton that left Spurs seventh in the Premier League table. Conte had fallen out with Chairman Daniel Levy and chief football officer Scott Munn over the club’s transfer policy and ambition. Conte’s assistant Cristian Stellini took charge for four games but resigned on April 9, citing personal reasons. Tottenham then appointed Ryan Mason, their former midfielder and academy coach, as interim manager until the end of the season.
Tottenham have also been looking for a new director of football to oversee their recruitment and strategy after Fabio Paratici resigned on April 21. Paratici had been banned from football for six months. Paratici had been tasked with finding Conte’s successor before he left, but his departure left Tottenham without a clear vision or structure. Tottenham has been in talks with several candidates for the director of football role, such as former Juventus chief Giuseppe Marotta, ex-Roma sporting director Monchi and RB Leipzig head of football Oliver Mintzlaff. However, they have yet to appoint anyone for the position.
Spurs face daunting challenges ahead
Tottenham’s manager hunt has exposed the deep-rooted problems that plague the club and threaten their future prospects. Spurs are facing a major overhaul of their squad, culture, and identity after a season that has seen them regress on and off the pitch.
Tottenham have an ageing and unhappy squad that needs freshening up and rejuvenating. Many of Spurs’ important players are past their peak or want to leave. Harry Kane, their captain and star striker, is considering his future plans amid interest from Manchester United. Kane has scored 31 goals in all competitions this season but has never won a trophy with Spurs.
Tottenham also has a disgruntled fan base that has lost faith in Levy and Munn after a series of unpopular decisions and poor performances. Spurs fans have protested against the club’s ownership several times this season, demanding more transparency, accountability and ambition from the board. They have also criticised the club’s involvement in the Super League fiasco, which saw Tottenham join 11 other European clubs in an attempt to form a breakaway competition that collapsed within 48 hours amid widespread backlash.
Tottenham have also lost their identity and style of play that made them one of the most exciting teams in Europe under Mauricio Pochettino. Pochettino led Spurs to four consecutive top-four finishes in the Premier League between 2015-16 and 2018-19, reaching the Champions League final in 2019. He developed a young, dynamic, attacking team that played with intensity, flair, and passion. However, Pochettino was sacked in November 2019 after a poor start to the campaign and replaced by Mourinho, who brought a more pragmatic and defensive approach that did not suit Tottenham’s players or fans. Mourinho won some big games but also suffered humiliating defeats and failed to deliver silverware. He left Spurs seventh in the league table and out of all cup competitions.
Conte was supposed to restore Tottenham’s glory days, but he only lasted four months before falling out with Levy and Munn over transfers. He also alienated some players with his harsh criticism and rigid tactics. He left Spurs even worse off than when he arrived.
Tottenham need a new manager who can revive their fortunes and restore their identity. They need someone who can rebuild their squad around their young talents, such as Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso, Ryan Sessegnon, Oliver Skipp, and Japhet Tanganga. They need someone who can play attractive football, entertain fans and challenge top teams. They need someone who can win trophies or at least compete for them consistently.
Who will be Tottenham’s next manager?
Tottenham are running out of time to find their next manager before the pre-season starts in July. They need to act quickly and decisively before they miss out on more candidates or settle for someone unsuitable for the job.
Slot was seen as one of the best options for Tottenham, given his success at Feyenoord. He won the Eredivisie title this season with an exciting brand of football that combined possession-based play with high pressing. He also developed some young players, such as Orkun Kokcu, Luis Sinisterra, Marcos Senesi, Tyrell Malacia, and Lutsharel Geertruida. He had the experience of playing in Europe, having reached the Europa League quarter-finals this season. He also had a good relationship with Feyenoord fans, who loved his style of play.
However, Slot’s rejection of Tottenham shows how difficult it is for the Spurs to attract top managers right now. After two disappointing seasons under Mourinho and Conte, they have lost some of their appeal. They have also lost some of their credibility after failing to appoint Nagelsmann or Enrique. They have also lost some of their stability after losing Paratici.
Tottenham still have some excellent candidates left on their shortlist, such as Postecoglou or Luis Enrique. Postecoglou has done an impressive job at Celtic, where he won two Scottish Premiership titles in a row. He also played an attractive brand of football that scored goals for fun. He also had experience managing abroad, having coached Australia at two World Cups. He also had a strong personality that could handle pressure.
Luis Enrique is another option for Tottenham, given his pedigree as a former Barcelona and Spain coach. He won nine trophies with Barcelona, including a treble in 2015. Enrique also played an attractive brand of football that combined possession-based play with high intensity. He also developed some world-class players such as Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar, Andres Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets. He also had experience managing big egos, having dealt with Messi and Neymar. Either of these managers could be a good fit for Tottenham if they can convince them to join.
Tottenham needs to act fast and smart
Tottenham cannot afford to waste any more time in their manager hunt. They must act fast and intelligently before losing more ground to their rivals. They must appoint a manager to plan for the new season and work on the transfer market. They need to select a manager who can communicate with the players and the fans. They need to appoint a manager to restore their identity and ambition.
Tottenham have a lot of work ahead in this summer. They must sort out their squad and decide who stays and who goes. They need to sell some of their ageing or unhappy players and raise funds for new signings. They need to buy some quality players who can improve their team and fit their style of play. They must balance their books and comply with the financial fair play rules.
Tottenham also have a lot of challenges ahead. They need to compete with their rivals with more money and stability. They need to qualify for Europe and challenge for trophies. They need to win back their fans who have lost trust in the club. They need to keep their star players, such as Kane or Son, happy and loyal.
Despite all these challenges, Tottenham have a lot of potential as a club. Tottenham Hotspur plays in a world-class stadium with a state-of-the-art training ground. Come experience the best of what Tottenham has to offer by buying your tickets on Seatsnet. They have some great players and some promising youngsters. They have a loyal fan base and a global brand. They have a history and a tradition.
