Mourinho straight into Spurs hotseat as he meets staff and takes training
● Portuguese gets Tottenham job less than 12 hours after Pochettino sacking
Jose Mourinho was at Tottenham’s training ground to meet his new squad yesterday afternoon following his appointment as Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement.
The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss signed a three-and-a-half-year contract less than 12 hours after Pochettino was sacked.
The 56-year-old, who had been out of work since leaving United last December, was at Hotspur Way meeting the club’s players and staff.
He took training in the afternoon ahead of his unveiling press conference at 2pm today and first game in charge away at West Ham on Saturday lunchtime.
Mourinho revealed he was relishing the chance to work with the players, who have underachieved so far this season.
The Portuguese said: “I am excited to be joining a club with such a great heritage and such passionate supporters.
“The quality in both the squadandtheacademyexcites me. Working with these players is what has attracted me.”
Mourinho moved quickly to appoint his backroom staff, with Joao Sacramento and Nuno Santos joining from Lille as assistant manager and goalkeeping coach, respectively.
Tottenham also confirmed the arrival of Carlos Lalin as fitness coach, Ricardo Formosinho as tactical analyst and Giovanni Cerra as technical analyst.
All three worked under Mourinho at Old Trafford.
Despite his troubles in the latter stages of his tenure at Old Trafford, Mourinho remains one of the most sought-after managers in the game.
His success at delivering trophies is not in question, having won three Premier
League titles, two Champions Leagues and a host of domestic cups, and that was a clear attraction for Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.
Levy previously tried to appoint Mourinho in 2007 when he left Chelsea for the first time and has admired him since.
Levy said: “In Jose we have one of the most successful managers in football.
“He has a wealth of experience, can inspire teams and is a great tactician.
“He has won honours at every club he has coached. We believe he will bring energy and belief to the dressing room.”
A statement from the club described Mourinho as “one of the world’s most accomplished managers” who “is renowned for his tactical prowess”.
It added: “He has won a domestic title in a record four different countries (Portugal, England, Italy and Spain) and is one of only three managers to have won the Uefa Champions League twice with two clubs, FC Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010.”
Pochettino was dismissed after five-and-a-half years in charge, less than six months after he took Spurs to the Champions League final, with the club lying 14th in the Premier League table after the opening 12 matches.
Mourinho, who has most recently been working as a pundit for Sky Sports, had turned down a number of opportunities to coach abroad since leaving United, including clubs in China, Spain and Portugal.
His first match in charge will be the London derby away to West Ham on Saturday and they are due to play United at Old Trafford on 4 December.
Spurs also play Champions League games at home to Olympiakos and away at Bayern Munich before hosting their new manager’s former club Chelsea on 22 December.
Mourinho’s side host Liverpool on 11 January and Manchester City on 1 February before a trip to Stamford Bridge on 22 February.
Mauricio Pochettino is now out of work after being sacked by Tottenham on Tuesday. The Argentine paid the price for poor domestic form in 2019, even though they played in the Champions League final less than six months ago. So, what might be in store for him?
TAKING A SABBATICAL
It would be a surprise to see Pochettino head straight into another job, especially as he floated the idea earlier this year of taking a sabbatical when he eventually left Spurs. He is almost certainly going to head back to his house in Barcelona and will want time to reflect on his time in London and take a rest – this is his first time out of work since becoming a manager. Taking six months out will help recharge his batteries and take him nicely to the summer, when some elite jobs are likely to become available.
BAYERN MUNICH
Pochettino was one of the favourites to take over at Bayern Munich, even before he was dismissed by Spurs. The Bundesliga giants are clearly willing to overlook the fact they hammered Pochettino’s side 7-2 in the Champions League earlier this season and are keen for him to replace Niko Kovac. Hans-dieter Flick is in interim charge, but is likely to make way and it is a job Pochettino may fancy. He would have money to spend, would inherit a young and exciting squad, and would find winning silverware almost a formality.
REAL MADRID
Wanted by Real Madrid last summer, there was always a sense that the Bernabeu job was the one thing that would tempt Pochettino away from Spurs. He said as recently as last week that he wants to manage in Spain and has also previously stated that he would find it hard to turn Madrid down. There is no current vacancy, of course, as Zinedine Zidane remains in charge, but things can quickly change at the Spanish club and Pochettino may just want to hang fire in case it comes up.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Jose Mourinho’s appointment as Pochettino’s successor at Tottenham is dripping in irony, considering it seemed a given it would be the Argentine who replaced Mourinho at Manchester United last season. United made Pochettino their No 1 target when Mourinho was axed, but the brilliant caretaker spell of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer changed that. However, the Norwegian has not gone on to totally convince since being given the permanent position, and Pochettino’s availability will not have gone unnoticed by the Old Trafford board.
“In Jose we have one of the most successful managers in football. Hehasawealthof experience, can inspire teams and is a great tactician”
DANIEL LEVY