Tim Sherwood has sensationally called on Igor Tudor to both win the Champions League and win 90 per cent of his Premier League games to be appointed permanently by Tottenham.
Tottenham have appointed the former Juventus and Marseille boss on a deal until the end of the season, when a more permanent solution will be found.
Sherwood would have been among those hoping to be called by his former club about stepping in after Thomas Frank was sacked last week, but decision-makers have sought a more established option.
Tudor was dismissed by Juventus in October, and will be chiefly tasked with keeping Tottenham well away from the relegation zone.
The Lilywhites are just five points ahead of 17th-placed West Ham, and will kick off Tudor’s tenure when they welcome Arsenal for the North London derby on Sunday.
Tottenham fans unimpressed by ‘bitter’ Tim Sherwood comments
Sherwood took over Tottenham on a permanent basis in 2013, signing an 18-month contract and replacing Andre Villas-Boas.
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The Englishman would ultimately end up only managing 26 games and leading the Lilywhites to the end of the 2013-14 season before he was sacked, however.
Sherwood’s tenure was littered by several embarrassing results, including losses to Arsenal and Man City at White Hart Lane.
He had spent four years at the club as a player, making 117 appearances and scoring 16 goals from central midfield, but his time as a manager was not so successful.
It was apparently good enough to persuade Aston Villa to make him their manager in 2015, though.
And, in fairness, Sherwood kept the Villans in the Premier League and led them to the FA Cup final, where they were thumped 4-0 by Arsenal.
Speaking about Tudor on Monday, Sherwood told Sky Sports News: “The upside is for him, very little upside. Upside is managing a wonderful football club in Tottenham Hotspur, and I think he’s come out and said he’s proud to get the opportunity to do that, as every other manager would.
“But he needs to win the Champions League and win every game in the Premier League, or 90 per cent of the games in the Premier League for him to have any chance of taking that job on the long-term.”
Tottenham fans reacted angrily on social media, with many calling Sherwood “bitter” that he had not received the call.
“Sherwood just been throwing he’s toys out the pram because he’s somehow shocked he didn’t get the call, so bitter”, wrote one fan.
Another wrote: “Sherwood talking nonsense again. Tudor does well, he’ll get another Premier League job. That simple”.
One X user took a harsher approach, and wrote: “Why do they keep giving this cretin air time. Failed manager, crap pundit.”
What Igor Tudor said after Tottenham appointment
Tudor’s main aim will be to impress at Tottenham, so he could be targeted by another Premier League club in the summer.
Several are expected to be on the lookout for a new figurehead, and if the Croatian can turn the situation at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium around, he will feature high up the list.
I understand the responsibility I have been handed and my focus is clear,” he said after his appointment last week. “To bring greater consistency to our performances and compete with conviction in every match.”
“Our objective is straightforward – to stabilise performances, maximise the quality within the squad and compete strongly in the Premier League and Champions League,” he added.