Mourinho in as Pochettino Gets the Sack

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino was sacked by the club chairman Daniel Levy late last night.

News followed this morning that Jose Mourinho, the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss has signed a contract with Spurs that will see him there until the end of 2022/23 season.

Pochettino’s position had undoubtedly been under threat in recent weeks, as the club’s terrible Premier League form saw them slip to 14th in the table.

But many thought the Argentine would be given more time by the club’s board, especially considering he’s single-handedly taken the North London club to never-before-seen heights.

Despite narrowly missing out on both the Premier League and the Champions League, Pochettino won plaudits from the footballing world for establishing Tottenham has a world-class competitor with little to no resources from the club.

His fast-flowing style of attacking play is attractive on the eye but is in stark contrast to the philosophy of Portuguese Mourinho.

One of the most respected managers’ in the game, the ‘Special One’ has won almost everything there is to win in club football.

In two stints at Chelsea he won three league titles and an FA Cup, before going on to claim the Carabao Cup and Europa League at Manchester United.

Mourinho is one of only three managers to have won the Champions League with two different clubs, first with FC Porto in 2004 followed by Inter Milan in 2010, securing the Italian treble that year.

A statement from Levy released on Tottenham’s website said “We are extremely reluctant to make this change and it is not a decision the Board has taken lightly, nor in haste.

“Regrettably domestic results at the end of last season and beginning of this season have been extremely disappointing.

“It falls to the Board to make difficult decisions – this one made more so given the many memorable moments we have had with Mauricio and his coaching staff – but we do so in the Club’s interests.

“Mauricio and his coaching staff will always be a part of our history.  I have the utmost admiration for the manner in which he dealt with the difficult times… I should like to thank him and his coaching staff for all they have contributed.  They will always be welcome here”.

Regardless of Tottenham’s disappointing league form of late, Pochettino was hugely popular amongst the fans and his dismissal will divide opinion.

Though one thing you can be sure of; he will go down in history as one of the club’s greats.