It’s safe to assume nobody saw this one coming. Not so much Thomas Frank getting the sack, given Tottenham's latest defeat against Newcastle was their 11th Premier League loss of the season.
But rather, Igor Tudor ushered in as interim until the end of the season. It’s certainly an eyebrow-raiser, with Tudor having never managed in England, as well as struggling during his most recent managerial stint with Juventus.
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Granted, the Croatian was initially brought in as a caretaker to steady the ship with the Serie A outfit - something that isn’t too dissimilar to his role at Spurs. But after being given the role on a permanent basis, Tudor was axed just a couple of months into the season, having overseen an eight-game winless streak.
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Then there’s the play philosophy. Tudor often favours a three-at-the-back setup, which could be difficult for Tottenham, who have struggled to find three fit centre-backs in recent times. Coupled with an often high-intensity, high-line, fast-flowing style of play (think Ange Postecoglou), and it looks like a disaster waiting to happen.
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Perhaps the only sensible part of this appointment is the fact that it’s only on an interim basis. And if you read between the lines, it feels pretty obvious why… Spurs want Mauricio Pochettino to return.
Pochettino is currently in charge of the United States national team, with the Argentine gearing up for this summer’s World Cup in North America. His contract with the nation is set to run until the autumn, which would clear the path for a return to club management following the World Cup.
It’s easy to see why the Spurs hierarchy would want Pochettino to return. They need an appointment that is going to get the fans back on their side, given the fractured relationship between the Spurs faithful and the boardroom.
Plus, in the last 10 years, he’s the only manager who’s actually enjoyed a consistent spell at the club. They were wrong to have sacked him in 2019, but now, albeit tails between their legs, they’d be right to roll the red carpet out for a return.
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