Spurs bet Mourinho still has it
Much-travelled manager takes over Tottenham after turmoil at Man U
Jose Mourinho sealed a return to coaching after almost a year out when Tottenham hired one of the world’s most successful managers.
Tottenham moved swiftly to replace Mauricio Pochettino, who was fired on Tuesday after a five-and-a-half-year spell in which he transformed the team’s fortunes — even reaching a Champions League final — but was unable to win a title.
That is something Mourinho, who has won 25 major trophies as a manager, specializes in. But there are question marks over whether he is still the force he once was after a turbulent twoand-a-half-year spell at Manchester United that ended in December.
“In Jose, we have one of the most successful managers in football,” Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said of his potentially divisive appointment. “He has a wealth of experience, can inspire teams and is a great tactician.”
Levy, who acknowledged Tuesday that he fired Pochettino “extremely reluctantly,” said he believed Mourinho “will bring energy and belief to the dressing room.”
Tottenham’s players will certainly respect Mourinho’s resumé, which includes three Premier League titles across two spells at Chelsea and also league winner’s medals with Porto in Portugal, Inter Milan in Italy and Real Madrid in Spain.
It is Mourinho’s man-management that has mostly been questioned in the latter years of his coaching career, given his penchant for publicly criticizing his own players. He has never spent more than three-anda-half years at one club.
“I am excited to be joining a club with such a great heritage and such passionate supporters,” said Mourinho, who signed a contract to the end of the 2022-23 season. “The quality in both the squad and the academy excites me. Working with these players is what has attracted me.”
Spurs are in 14th place after 12 games, 11 points off the Champions League qualification positions.
Mourinho’s first game in charge of Tottenham will be against West Ham on Saturday and he will return to United at Old Trafford on Dec. 4.