Planet Football

Ange Postecoglou has caused shockwaves by claiming that Tottenham aren’t a big club by the way in which they operate in the transfer market, and threw out several names of players that he wanted the club to sign that they failed to get over the line.

“They’ve built an unbelievable stadium, unbelievable training facilities but when you look at the expenditure, particularly their wages structure, they’re not a big club,” Postecoglou told the Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast.

“I saw that because when we were trying to sign players we weren’t in the market for those players.

We’ve put together a full XI of players Tottenham could have today if they’d backed Postecoglou more.

GK: David Raya

There’s little to suggest that Postecoglou wasn’t happy with Guglielmo Vicario, who has had his dodgy moments but is a world-class shot-stopper on his day and has proven an upgrade on late-era Hugo Lloris.

But the Italian doesn’t appear to have been Spurs’ first-choice target in Postecoglou’s first summer.

There are conflicting reports over whether they actually made an official bid for Raya, but weeks before the club sealed Vicario’s signing, they’re said to have approached Brentford. Fabrizio Romano even reported that he’d agreed personal terms.

The Spanish ‘keeper was approaching the final year of his contract and was set on a departure, but Spurs baulked at the Bees’ £40million asking price.

Raya ended up getting his move later that summer, joining Arsenal on an initial season-long loan before a £27million move the following summer. He’s now chasing down a third successive Golden Glove since signing for the Gunners.

RB: Pedro Porro

Djed Spence was reintegrated into Postecoglou’s first-team set-up after spending the 2023-24 campaign out on loan to Leeds United and Genoa, but the coach appeared more than satisfied with Porro at right-back.

Only two players made more appearances for Spurs under Postecoglou.

“He’s worked awfully hard on his game on both the offensive and defensive side,” the former manager told SPURSPLAY after a well-deserved Spain call-up in March 2024.

“We’ve obviously put some different demands on that position, but he’s adapted so well and credit to him, he’s worked really hard.”

CB: Micky van de Ven

We ummed and ahhed over which of Spurs’ existing centre-backs to include in his hypothetical dream backline, but ultimately decided on Van de Ven.

The Dutch defender’s blistering pace was almost like a cheat code when playing Postecoglou’s daring high line.

It’s easy to forget now that Spurs finished within a whisker of Champions League qualification in his first season, while nowadays fifth place would be enough.

Van de Ven and his recovery pace was absolutely integral when Angeball was clicking.

CB: Marc Guehi

Postecoglou’s admission that he wanted the club to go out and sign Guehi raises an interesting question over who’d have featured in his first-choice backline.

He could have played Guehi alongside two other centre-backs, as Oliver Glasner did so effectively at Crystal Palace, but we just can’t imagine a deviation from the 4-3-3 he favoured at Spurs. It’s just who we are, mate.

Such talk is probably academic, given the defensive injury headache Postecoglou had in his final season. But having Van de Ven, Guehi and Cristian Romero – man of the match in Postecoglou’s finest hour – would leave one quality defender out.

Perhaps had they got Guehi over the line, they’d instead have cashed in on Romero. The interest in the World Cup winner is well established, and it would’ve made the kind of cold, hard financial sense that was always music to Daniel Levy’s ears.

LB: Destiny Udogie

There’s been little in the transfer rumour mill to suggest that Spurs were planning anything but integrating Udogie into Postecoglou’s set-up after his impressive loan to Udinese in 2022-23.

Like Van de Ven, the left-back was often exceptional in the period where it looked like Angeball was the future.

Given Udogie’s recent injury record, a quality alternative wouldn’t have gone amiss, but if fit and available this spot belongs to the Italy international.

DM: Joao Palhinha

Six was an ongoing problem position in the Postecoglou era. Pierre Emile Hojbjerg’s limitations were exposed in his final season, while Yves Bissouma has never really kicked on.

It would have been interesting to see how Joao Palhinha would have fared under Postecoglou. The Portuguese midfielder’s progressive passing has left a lot to be desired, but his engine and out-of-possession play would have made him a useful asset for Angeball.

Getting in a world-class defensive midfielder might have been the difference in the Postecoglou project ever taking off, but linked players are relatively thin on the ground. We’ll stick Palhinha in here, but really this is the biggest question mark in the XI.

CM: Pape Matar Sarr

The Senegalese midfielder might not be the flashiest name, but he had Postecoglou’s trust. Surprisingly, no player made more appearances for Spurs under the Australian than Sarr.

“He’s been great from the moment I arrived,” Postecoglou told reporters after he shone in an early statement victory over Manchester United.

“He’s got a great energy about him, but he’s got quality there too. He’s one of those midfielders who causes the opposition real problems because, whether it’s him running with the ball or without the ball, he runs forward, he runs aggressively, and he disrupts the opposition.

“He’s just got a great temperament for a young guy. So really pleased for him.”

Sarr hasn’t quite kicked on as many would have expected since Postecoglou’s departure, but there’s undoubtedly a player there.

Conor Gallagher, now with Spurs of course, is an alternative option. But moving directly from Chelsea was always unlikely.

QUIZ: Can you name every player Ange Postecoglou used at Tottenham?

CM: Eberechi Eze

We’re surprised that Eze’s name wasn’t one mentioned by Postecoglou in his recent appearance on Stick To Football, because according to media reports he was very keen on the playmaker long before Tottenham’s knocked-back approach last summer.

“There is also the fact that Postecoglou wanted to buy Eberechi Eze and got Timo Werner on loan instead,” wrote BBC pundit Pat Nevin in his defence of Postecoglou after he departed the club last summer.

“I was going to explain this disparity further but if you know football at all, you have got the point already.”

Say no more, Pat.

FWL: Antoine Semenyo

Postecoglou spoke of wanting to sign “Premier League proven” players, with Semenyo one of the specific players he namechecked.

The forward had enjoyed an eye-catching 2023-24 campaign at Bournemouth, but it was really from that point onwards – under the guidance of Andoni Iraola – that he really exploded into life.

Now he’s chasing down trophies with Manchester City, with five goals in his first eight appearances since arriving in January. Tottenham got a bitter taste of his extraordinary talent with his last act for Cherries, notching a brilliant injury-time match-winner back in early January.

Hindsight’s a wonderful thing, eh?

ST: Bryan Mbeumo

“We ended up signing Dom Solanke and three teenagers,” Postecoglou bemoaned of Tottenham’s business in the summer of 2024.

It was then that he levelled the charge that they’re not operated like a big club. Ouch.

He did go on to say that he was very happy with Solanke (and that the teenagers would be great players for the future). He also claimed that he’d have loved to have had a season with Harry Kane (“the best player I’ve worked with”) after their pre-season together in 2013 – but the England captain always appeared destined for Bayern Munich.

Mbeumo has only lined up as a centre-forward for a fraction of his career appearances to date and we don’t imagine that would’ve been Spurs’ plan for him.

But we’re sticking him here as Postecoglou mentioned his name explicitly, and he offers a nice illustration of Tottenham missing out on players on the ascendancy who have gone on to thrive for their immediate rivals.

FWR: Pedro Neto

The last of four names mentioned by Postecoglou on his recent Stick To Football appearance (after Guehi, Semenyo and Mbeumo).

In fairness, the former Tottenham coach probably wasn’t suggesting that he wanted to sign all of those players together, especially given that three of them play similar roles, but it’d make an interesting forward line, wouldn’t it? You’d probably take it over their current one.

Neto hasn’t exactly pulled up any trees at Stamford Bridge, and his record of 20 goals and 28 assists in 172 Premier League appearances isn’t anything to write home about, but he’s featured regularly for a Chelsea side that did what Spurs failed to do and made the step up to the top four.

READ NEXT: Tottenham’s 2026-27 Championship predicted XI if they’re relegated this season

Tottenham now find themselves in a relegation battle, with the club just five points above the bottom three with 12 games remaining.

Thomas Frank has been sacked following their latest defeat against Newcastle and if the club doesn’t appoint the right manager to replace him, they find themselves in serious danger of going down.

Using players under contract with the club, we’ve assembled a realistic XI of how Spurs could line up in the Championship next season, if they are relegated.

GK: Antonin Kinsky

Guglielmo Vicario would almost certainly leave if Spurs go down, which would open the door for Kinsky to claim a starting spot.

Spurs signed the 22-year-old for £12.5million last January and handed him a six-and-a-half year deal which runs until 2031.

Even if Tottenham are playing Championship football next season, he’s not going anywhere with a contract like that.

RB: Djed Spence

Of the players who’ve played more than 1000 minutes of Premier League football this season, we think that Spence would be one of the most likely to stay.

Let’s not forget that the full-back was playing in the Championship as recently as 2023-24 and with plenty of experience in the league, Spurs would likely want him to stick around.

CB: Ashley Phillips

Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven would probably be two of the first players out of the door in this scenario, so we won’t include them.

Spurs signed Phillips from Blackburn Rovers in 2023, but the young centre-half is yet to make his senior debut for the club.

He’s spent the past couple of seasons developing on loan with Stoke, where he’s established himself as one of the best defenders in the league.

The 20-year-old is certainly a Premier League player in the making and would be a seamless fit into Tottenham’s Championship XI.

CB: Luka Vuskovic

Another out-on-loan defender who could be a prominent starter next season is Vuskovic.

The towering Croatian defender has all of the attributes to be a dominant force in the second tier and is currently enjoying a good loan spell with Hamburg in the Bundesliga.

Kevin Danso is another potential option for this position, who we wouldn’t be surprised to see stick around in the second tier.

LB: Ben Davies

With the youthful look to the XI, Tottenham will be keen to retain at least some of their experienced heads.

Davis’ current contract expires at the end of the season, but the club could be tempted to give him another year on reduced terms if they land in the second tier next season.

CM: Archie Gray

Gray was a standout performer for Leeds United in the Championship during the 2023-24 campaign when they finished third.

While he’d likely have offers to return to the Premier League, Spurs should still have enough pull to make him stay, given his age and contract length.

He’s also another player who can fill in at right-back, although he’s most influential when in midfield.

CM: Lucas Bergvall

Similar to Gray, Bergvall would likely have offers to go elsewhere, but a year in the Championship wouldn’t massively hinder his career, given his age.

He’s still under contract with Spurs until 2031, so it would take a lucrative offer to lure him away from North London right now.

He’d also be a top player in the Championship and would thrive in a promotion-hunting side, like you’d expect Tottenham to be.

CAM: Alfie Devine

Devine has been thriving in the Championship with Preston North End, so it stands to reason that the club would make use of him next season.

It’s worth noting that Preston does have the option to buy the 21-year-old at the end of the season, but according to reports, it’s unclear if the club will be able to trigger the lucrative clause, which would likely be a club record.

From midfield, he’s scored six goals and produced two assists this season for a side in the playoff hunt.

READ: Spurs & 7 more big clubs we can’t believe are in danger of relegation in 2025-26

RW: Wilson Odobert

Tottenham fans are yet to see the best of Odobert, who has been in and out of the starting XI this season.

While he’s not a consistent performer at Premier League level, a drop down to the Championship could be the best thing for his career right now.

LW: Mikey Moore

Moore was linked with a loan move to the Championship, before he ended up joining Rangers instead.

Spurs fans still have high hopes for the teenager, who could become a first-team regular next season if the club is playing in the Championship.

Another option for this role could be Manor Solomon, providing that Fiorentina don’t trigger their option to buy at the end of the season.

ST: Will Lankshear

The striker spot is perhaps the biggest unknown if Spurs are relegated.

Richarlison and Dominic Solanke would almost certainly leave. Would someone like Mathys Tel stick around for a season in the second tier? We’re not so sure.

Of the players that Spurs have out on loan, Lankshear at least has experience at the level, having spent this season on loan with Oxford United.

He’s scored six goals in 30 appearances, but you’d think would be more prolific in a side that creates more chances.

READ NEXT: The shocking Premier League table since Tottenham lost the North London derby in November

Since playing Arsenal in November, only two Premier League clubs have accumulated fewer points than Tottenham.

Whichever way you spin it, the 2025-26 campaign has been disastrous for Spurs, with the club now just a few points above the relegation zone.

While most fans thought that last season’s finish in 17th was a one-off, their poor form in the Premier League has carried over into this season.

Thomas Frank made a somewhat promising start to life in North London, winning three of his first four league matches, but things have quickly turned sour for the former Brentford boss.

A crippling injury crisis certainly hasn’t helped, but the fact that Spurs have only taken 11 points from their last 15 matches surely means that the end is in sight for the 52-year-old boss.

Since playing Arsenal in November, Spurs have averaged a miserable 0.73 points per game, which is the equivalent of just 28 points over a full campaign.

During this period, Spurs have the worst defensive record in the league (27 goals conceded) and only seven clubs have scored fewer goals than them (17 goals).

Tottenham looked second best for the majority of the game against Newcastle, with Frank’s side giving up 21 shots to a Newcastle side who were winless in their last five matches.

“You’ve got to say what it is and they are in a relegation fight,” Glenn Hoddle told TNT Sports following their latest loss.

“The players have to understand that and the fans have to understand that.

“It is the reality and you have to scrap for every single point.”

In contrast, Arsenal have taken more points than any other club since last playing Spurs, having won nine of their last 14 league matches.

The two clubs will face each other once again next Sunday, with Arsenal being the overwhelming favourites for that tie.

To illustrate just how wide the gap between both sides is right now, here’s how the Premier League table shapes up since the last North London Derby, which Arsenal won 4-1.

Note: to create this table, we’ve used our sister site Football365 and their brilliant Premier League Tables resource – a goldmine for creating and exploring custom tables.

READ NEXT: It’s official: Thomas Frank is the worst ‘big six’ manager ever – with even worse stats than Amorim

Tottenham captain Cristian Romero continues to be linked with a move away from the club.

It was only last summer that he signed a lengthy contract extension, having been given the armband following Son Heung-min’s departure.

But Thomas Frank has offered no guarantees he’ll remain amid reports he’s unhappy at the club, having made a couple of inflammatory social media posts that appear critical of the club hierarchy.

“That’s a question I have no idea about,” responded the Spurs manager when asked whether he expects Romero to stay in the summer.

“Right now, he is the captain, he has a long-term contract, and we signed a new contract with him.”

With that in mind, we’ve ranked the seven likeliest destinations for Romero.

Tottenham reportedly beat Liverpool to Romero’s signature back in 2021.

The Argentinian was fresh from being named Serie A Defender of the Season at Atalanta, but Jurgen Klopp was happy to rely on Virgil van Dijk – fresh from his injury return – alongside new recruit Ibrahima Konate, who arrived earlier the same summer.

After missing out on Marc Guehi, the Reds have recently announced the signing of highly-rated French defender Jeremy Jacquet for next season. They’ll also have the returning Giovanni Leoni.

But there are still question marks over the future of Arne Slot’s defence. Van Dijk is starting to look his age, while Konate is yet to sign a contract extension and may leave on a free.

The signings of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak demonstrate that Liverpool are prepared to spend big on the right target.

But if they do, Micky van de Ven appears considerably more likely than Romero. Spurs can’t afford to lose both of them, can they?

There hasn’t been any talk of the perennial Ligue 1 champions eyeing up a move for Romero, but you can never rule them out of a sudden big-money transfer.

Rumours abound about Luis Enrique’s contract. Should he depart, they might use that as an excuse for a shake-up.

Summer signing Ilya Zabarnyi doesn’t look like stepping up to become a first-team regular, while long-serving club captain Marquinhos turns 32 in the summer.

The time will come to look to a future beyond the Brazilian.

In a pure footballing sense, Romero to Barcelona would make a lot of sense. They’re lacking in defensive options, having failed to replace Inigo Martinez.

It doesn’t appear as though Ronald Araujo has a long-term future at the Camp Nou, but Hansi Flick’s squad is otherwise left wanting for proven, experienced leaders at the back.

Going to Barcelona would be a natural step up for Romero, and he has experience of playing in a high line under Ange Postecoglou.

The problem is the club’s financial situation. Marcus Rashford has 10 goals and 13 assists this season, but it’s been reported that they’ll struggle to pay just €30million to make his move permanent.

How they can expect to afford a Premier League player, World Cup winner, at peak age and under contract until 2029 is anyone’s guess.

In a world where Harry Maguire and Wesley Fofana cost €97million and €80million respectively, we can’t see the cash-strapped Catalan outfit stumping up the funds required for his signature.

The Old Lady let Romero slip through their fingers once. There have been whisperings of a return to Turin, but very little by way of concrete links.

Juventus look on the up under Luciano Spalletti and they could do with a marquee signing that signals a statement of intent.

Romero has the profile, pedigree and has already proven himself exceptional in Serie A. We’re just not sure Juve have the funds to make it happen.

Last summer Los Blancos spent a hefty fee to bring in Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth.

The young Spain international showed lots of promise in his early appearances under Xabi Alonso, but he’s increasingly struggled in their injury-ravaged, ever-changing backline.

It looks as though Madrid will need to reinvest more on their defence in the near future.

Eder Militao and David Alaba have regular fitness issues. Antonio Rudiger has been more erratic than ever and is out of contract at the end of the season. Raul Asencio is not the next Sergio Ramos.

Romero’s particular defending style would complement young Huijsen nicely, in theory.

As with Juventus, Inter aren’t exactly flush with cash. Serie A’s had quite the fall since it was the natural destination for the sport’s most elite players in the 1990s.

But Romero to Inter would make a world of sense. He’d be perfect for them, and their creaking defence looks in serious need of a rebuild. Francesco Acerbi is 37 and surely won’t go on much longer.

The Nerazzurri spent close to €100million last summer on bolstering their squad. Cash in on a couple of their more lucrative assets and target their spending on one key area this time around, and it’s not impossible to imagine them making it happen.

Nothing has made more sense, has it?

Diego Simeone loves an Argentinian. And he loves a rugged no-nonsense centre-back.

Spending big on superstars hasn’t gone particularly well in recent years, but we could see Romero bucking that trend.

Those reports from Madrid’s daily sport tabloids aren’t going anywhere, either. No smoke without fire?

READ NEXT: 10 Argentina stars on Lionel Messi’s influence: ‘You’d go to war if he asked you to’

Manchester City came from three goals down to beat Tottenham 4-3 in a memorable FA Cup replay in 2004 – but how well do you remember their starting XI?

After a 1-1 draw in Manchester, City travelled to London for this Fourth Round replay looking for some relief in a miserable season.

But an equally underperforming Spurs raced into a 3-0 lead in the first half, with Kevin Keegan’s City also reduced to 10 men.

What followed was one of the great comebacks in English football history. We’re asking you to recall City’s XI from that February night at White Hart Lane.

If this gives you the taste for another challenge, why not try naming every player to score 15 or more Premier League goals for Manchester City?

If you enjoy our quizzes, head to our new Football Games home where you can search an archive of over 1,000 quizzes and play them all in beautiful full-screen mode.

Good luck and don’t forget to tweet us your scores @planetfutebol.

Thomas Frank is on incredibly thin ice at Tottenham, with his side currently sat 14th in the Premier League and just eight points above the relegation zone.

Given Spurs’ struggles this season, it’s becoming increasingly unlikely that Frank will be in the dugout next season, unless he manages to turn things around in the coming weeks.

With that in mind, we’ve ranked the six most high-profile managers who are out of contract this summer by how likely they are to become the next Tottenham manager.

While Tuchel would no doubt do a fine job with Tottenham and they’d be happy to take him after the World Cup, the German will likely have other options on the table.

He’s been heavily linked with the Manchester United job and with that in mind, it would take quite the push from Spurs to secure his services.

Tottenham were linked with Valverde back in 2021, but the move never materialised in the end.

The 61-year-old is out of contract with Athletic Club at the end of the season, with it currently undecided whether he’ll sign a new deal.

Valverde’s lack of Premier League experience somewhat counts against him in this ranking, but we’d sure love to see him in England.

Despite a few collapses in Europe, he did a pretty good job with Barcelona on the whole, given the context of his time in charge, winning two league titles with them.

All things considered, he’s also done a good job with Athletic Bilbao since returning to the club, turning them into top-four challengers.

Prior to appointing Frank, Silva was among the shortlist of options that Tottenham were considering.

Given the resources he’s had to work with, the 48-year-old has done an excellent job with Fulham, consistently having them push for a top-half finish.

With his deal at Craven Cottage expiring this summer, he’ll surely be considered once again, although we think a few names are ahead of him at this stage.

The 51-year-old has done a terrific job with Crystal Palace, guiding them to Europe and winning two trophies in the process.

We could certainly see him being on the shortlist to replace Frank, although the way his stints with Wolfsburg, Eintracht Frankfurt and now Crystal Palace have ended put a slight red flag against his name.

If not properly backed, we can see it being only a matter of time before he and the higher-ups at Tottenham start to butt heads.

Still, he’s definitely someone that the club will consider this summer and rightly so.

Spurs have increasingly drifted away from ‘The Tottenham Way’ in recent years, but Iraola could bring that back.

His high-energy attacking football would no doubt be a hit in North London and it’s no secret that he’s been linked with the job previously.

His stock may have gone down amidst Bournemouth’s struggles this season, but given he’s lost the spine of his squad over the past 12 months, a drop-off seemed almost inevitable.

Of the Premier League managers out-of-contract this summer, Iraola seems like the best fit for Spurs.

They say never go back, but at this point, what have Tottenham got to lose?

Since parting company with one another, Spurs have gone from Champions League finalists and Premier League challengers to mid-table fodder.

Similarly, while Pochettino has done adequate jobs with PSG, Chelsea and now the United States, he’s never bonded with any of those sides quite like Tottenham.

According to Football Insider, Pochettino himself would be open to returning to Spurs after the 2026 World Cup and we’d certainly love to see it. Watch this space.

READ NEXT: Ranking the 10 biggest out-of-work managers by how they’d fare at Tottenham

Seldom have there been as many big-name managers available after all the churn at the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea in recent weeks.

That makes things particularly interesting for Tottenham, with Thomas Frank’s job surely hanging by a thread. Reports suggest that Frank will remain at the helm for Spurs’ Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund in midweek, but his future at the club is looking increasingly untenable.

We’ve taken a look at 10 of the biggest managers who are currently out of work and ranked them for how suitable they’d be for the Tottenham job.

We’re obliged to include Zizou’s name here because, technically speaking, he is available.

But he’s not really, is he? Turning down the job he’s always dreamt of – the France national team – to take over this Spurs rabble is simply never going to happen.

Zidane strikes us as an Ancelotti-esque man-manager to get the best out of the football’s absolute elite, not Rodrigo Bentancur, Joao Palhinha and Richarlison.

Although he could teach them a thing or two in training.

Eighteen months ago, Amorim would’ve been an exceptional candidate for the Tottenham job.

A coach on the up with a great reputation, having ended Sporting Lisbon’s long wait for the Portuguese title, Tottenham would’ve represented a natural stepping stone into one of Europe’s major leagues.

The 40-year-old’s dogmatism – absolutely wedded to his wingback system – was a bad fit at Manchester United. But that’s not to say it couldn’t work elsewhere.

And Tottenham are certainly crying out for something different, because Frank’s approach evidently has not worked.

It’ll be fascinating to see what’s next for Amorim. It wouldn’t shock us to see him on an Unai Emery-esque redemption arc, proving himself an adept coach after struggling at a basket case big club.

Available-ish.

Ten Hag doesn’t appear to be in any rush to get back into the dugout, given he’s just signed a contract to take over as FC Twente’s technical director in the summer.

You wonder if his plans might change if offered a role back into top-level management, though.

The Dutch coach’s stock has plummeted after his difficult final few months at Manchester United before a short-lived car crash at Bayer Leverkusen.

But he did a superb job at Ajax. And his tenure at Old Trafford looks better in hindsight when you contrast it against what followed. He’s not to be dismissed, out of hand.

Rose boasts a decent enough CV.

The obligatory second-place finish in his one season at Borussia Dortmund. Silverware delivered at Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig.

On the flipside, the moment has kind of passed for the coaches out of the Red Bull school. They’re no longer the tacticians du jour.

The kind of sensible but ultimately uninspiring appointment whereby getting fed into the Tottenham managerial meat grinder feels inevitable from day one. Nuno, Frank… Rose, step on down.

Southgate’s a weird one.

He objectively did a very good job with England, their most successful manager in half a century, but – like Zidane – we struggle to envisage him outside of one very specific context.

Were he ever to dip his toes back into the club game, Spurs actually seems a natural enough fit.

As a man-manager and inspirational figurehead, he fits the bill. But Premier League football demands much more than vibes alone.

You sense that he’d live or die by his coaching staff. He would, at least, be self-effacing enough to recognise that.

The Italian is evidently a competent coach. But Spurs have gone for Chelsea’s sloppy seconds before and that hasn’t tended to go well.

We could see Maresca doing a passable job. He’d surely offer improvement on their current form.

But we can’t see his patient, possession-focused, Guardiola-inspired tactics exciting many fans. And we certainly can’t envisage him staying around long enough to build a serious, winning team.

We can’t help but go to the bat for Xavi, who delivered an unlikely La Liga when Barcelona were at the height of their financial mismanagement.

Despite that, he never quite lived up to his billing as an arch-Cruyffist who could deliver beautiful tiki-taka football.

Above all, Xavi could organise a team. And he’s spoken of his openness to working in England.

Damaged goods, admittedly, after his miserable, short-lived stint at Juventus.

But that’s simply the reality of the managerial market Spurs will soon be shopping in. Nine of the 10 names in this list departed their last job in acrimony.

Motta’s Juve were an oddly anaemic team, but he landed that big job after working wonders at Bologna. Back then, he was considered one of the most exciting, forward-thinking coaches in Europe.

The positive spin on that is that there’s now a point to prove.

A fresh name has just become available after Eintracht Frankfurt announced the sacking of Toppmoller.

It’s no great shock, given they’ve been a defensive shambles this season. Only Bayern Munich have scored more goals in the Bundesliga, but no team has conceded more.

In mitigation, there is a personnel issue there. Half of their back four (Robin Koch and Rasmus Kristensen) were relegated with Leeds a couple of years back.

In Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, he’d have considerably more refined defenders at his disposal at Tottenham.

Toppmoller did a solid job of getting the club into the Champions League last season, all the while turning rough diamonds like Hugo Ekitike and Omar Marmoush into mega-money assets.

Tottenham’s squad is full of talented youngsters crying out for that kind of transformative coaching.

A bit like Zidane, Alonso is not going to take the Spurs job. Let’s be serious.

But, allowing ourselves to daydream for a minute, Alonso would actually be a perfect fit for the task at hand with Spurs.

He turned Leverkusen from a young, underperforming side with modest resources to one that achieved a historic domestic double.

Having struggled to get buy-in from the superstar egos in Real Madrid’s dressing room, you don’t imagine that same issue at Tottenham.

We can’t see any world in which Spurs can make this happen. But they should move heaven and earth to put together an enticing offer.

Offering Alonso an absurdly lucrative contract, for one, would be a wiser use of funds than the hundreds of millions they’ve spunked up the wall in the transfer market in recent times gone by.

READ NEXT: Next Tottenham manager: 4 caretaker options to steady the ship before Pochettino’s return

There’s a school of thought that achieving something you’ve longed for is always destined to be underwhelming.

Years are poured into climbing the mountain, literally or metaphorically, without thought of what happens next when the adrenaline wears off.

That’s not to minimise the sense of achievement and the feelings attached that’ll keep you warm as the years draw in.

But it’s tricky to renew your sense of purpose when the previous dream was so central to your identity.

Generations of Tottenham and West Ham supporters yearned for success, a moment of glory without strings attached. A night where their club wasn’t one of English football’s punchlines.

Many would’ve fantasised about Prague and Bilbao. Now the post-success glow has worn off and both clubs are perhaps more miserable than before.

Corportate efficency football

It’s already busy at 12.30 outside Seven Sisters station. On a bright and mild January afternoon, everybody has the same idea to stroll the half-hour distance to the ground.

Seven Sisters Road has a time capsule quality to it; skim the surface and it could be any year since 1970 with its Caribbean cafes, South Asian shops and Greek-Cypriot takeaways.

This is London at its multicultural best, a proud middle finger to the vision Nigel Farage wishes to inflict upon the country.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium looms in the distance before revealing itself suddenly. It’s the opposite of inconspicuous, an arena designed to be London’s premier entertainment venue as much as Tottenham’s home.

Despite the rivalry between Spurs and West Ham, the atmosphere outside is muted with little chanting and minimal anticipation. People are here in body, not spirit.

Since ending their 17-year trophy drought last May, Spurs have sold their captain, the match-winner from the Europa League final and sacked the manager who masterminded it all.

Finishing 17th was alarming for a club of Tottenham’s resources and ambition, ultimately costing Ange Postecoglou his job.

But Thomas Frank has presided over a campaign of colourless football that has Spurs marooned in the bottom half again.

Matches have felt like the human manifestation of corporate efficiency culture; eliminate risk, kill personality, favour the fine margins and ‘optimise’ decision making.

You suspect Frank is mentally still managing Brentford. Spurs fans hate everything he personifies, even before posing with an Arsenal coffee cup before a recent loss at Bournemouth.

Tottenham had the worst home record of any Premier League team in 2025, but defeat to West Ham still felt unthinkable.

‘We’ll win 2-0’, one small lad tells his father as they wait for their salmon and cream cheese bagels. Resuscitating West Ham was surely beyond even Dr. Tottenham’s prowess.

Duracell Bunny

The Hammers arrived in North London without a league win since November and seven points adrift of safety.

But they weathered Spurs’ initial spasm of energy to boss the first half, snapping into tackles and moving the ball forward with purpose.

New signings Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos start in a revamped attack, while Crysencio Summerville plays as a Duracell Bunny with fully-charged batteries.

Summerville’s deflected shot, after being released by the excellent Matheus Fernandes, gives West Ham an early lead.

The away end’s celebrations don’t disrupt a planned ‘red card’ protest against the club’s ownership. Around 100 home fans protested against their own club’s leadership pre-match.

Both kits on show are awful, with Spurs adding an ugly grey trim to their traditional white and West Ham’s Boyle Sports effort a visual representation of perma-austerity. It’s all a far cry from Holsten and Dr Martens.

As the half wears on, the howls of anguish from the home end wouldn’t feel out of place in Wuthering Heights.

Guglielmo Vicario rolling his studs on the ball, waiting for a pass, attracts particular ire. Xavi Simons ducking out of a challenge with Jean-Clair Todibo elicits a disapproving groan.

The written account of Mathys Tel, Wilson Odobert and Randal Kolo Muani’s contributions wouldn’t fill a one-sided leaflet. Spurs are loudly booed off at the break.

You hope the supporters clubs in Lithuania, Izmir, Somalia and Pune (among several advertised throughout the game) aren’t watching.

Meat & potatoes

The second-half is the definition of helter-skelter, with challenges flying in and no pretence of control as the game becomes end-to-end.

Conor Gallagher, Tottenham’s new £35million signing, is in his element. Gallagher clatters into an opponent within 20 seconds of kick-off and treats the ball as a live grenade.

It’s a surprise to see his shirt isn’t tucked in – Gallagher would be captain of such an XI. It’s meat and potatoes football, without seasoning or gravy.

West Ham are inching back and Tottenham level after Pedro Porro’s cross is thumped home by Cristian Romero’s head.

Porro cups his ears to the home supporters. He later fails to beat the first man from a corner as Spurs press for a second.

But West Ham snatch a farcical injury-time winner. Vicaro flaps at a corner like a chicken watching a fox enter its enclosure and Callum Wilson prods home.

The away end convulses with rare joy. A season that includes a win at Spurs is never a complete write-off at West Ham, even one still likely to end in relegation. Their win is deserved for a committed display.

Spurs are the same, only in reverse. It feels almost intrusive to witness their fans’ anger at full-time, like seeing a strained couple rowing at a dinner party.

To be Frank

Frank looks like a beaten man. He later speaks of ‘turning round the Spurs supertanker’ and his insistence on ‘focusing on what we do’ emits self-consciousness rather than reassurance.

His days are surely numbered. ‘We win playing football our way,’ declared the Tottenham pre-match montage; Frank probably opens a packet of crisps with scissors.

Neither Spurs nor West Ham are easy football clubs to manage, but both are widely misunderstood.

Supporters of both are aware that success is elusive, especially when competing with nearby Arsenal and Chelsea, but are often accused of deluded thoughts of unearned grandeur.

The angst is surely rooted in their club trying to imitate London rivals, with supersize stadiums and all the trappings, while the owners still run the football team as mid-table entities.

Fans have been asked to pay eye-watering season ticket prices to watch percentage football with the sole aim of hitching a backseat ride on the gravy train. It’s not much of an existence.

At least West Ham now have a moment to savour in a bleak season. The prognosis for Spurs is fast becoming terminal.

READ NEXT: Most over-promoted Premier League managers ranked: Frank, Potter, Moyes…

Thomas Frank’s days in the Tottenham job are surely numbered, following their latest dismal defeat on home soil – this time around 2-1 to relegation-battling London rivals West Ham United.

The result could well be the final nail in the coffin for Frank, with fan opinion having long since turned on the Dane. What happens next is anyone’s guess.

There are some big-name coaches available on the market after all this season’s upheaval, but convincing an elite-level coach to join the club in their current predicament would be difficult.

Could the stars be aligning for Mauricio Pochettino to make a romantic return to the club he loves so much? He’s consistently made clear his openness to one day coming back, while he’ll be available again in the summer – his contract with the United States expires after they host the World Cup.

“Talking about the Premier League, and we are in London…” Pochettino responded when asked by the BBC what’s his ultimate ambition.

“To win the Premier League and the Champions League. We were so close in Tottenham. I want to achieve this. I am still young, I have the energy, experience and motivation to try in the future.”

We’ve taken a look at four potential caretaker appointments that could steady the ship at Tottenham until Pochettino becomes available in the summer.

Ryan Mason

The clear and obvious candidate.

Mason has twice before served as a caretaker coach, memorably taking charge of Tottenham for the 2021 League Cup final following Jose Mourinho’s sacking, and is available after being relieved of his duties at West Brom last month.

The 34-year-old’s unsuccessful spell at the Hawthorns is unlikely to set hearts racing were he to return, but he remains a popular and well-liked figure at the club. His appointment would, if nothing else, see an uptick in vibes.

Last time out, succeeding the outrageously forgettable Cristian Stellini, he immediately set about doing something a bit more positive and front-footed – exactly what this current situation is crying out for.

John Heitinga

Heitinga’s appointment recalls the return of Ruud van Nistelrooy at Manchester United last season.

He served alongside Erik ten Hag for a few awkward months before getting the caretaker gig when his compatriot departed. Something similar could be in the works here.

“John is a great addition to our coaching staff. His ability, personality and character will add huge value both on and off the pitch,” Frank said after the appointment of Heitinga as an assistant coach was sealed earlier this week.

“As a former defender, that will be one of his main responsibilities on the training pitch and he brings great coaching and management experiences from all levels of the game, which will really help us moving forward.”

Given Tottenham’s latest home defeat, it could well end up that Frank only has a matter of days working alongside the Dutch coach.

After leaving Liverpool’s coaching staff in the summer, Heitinga returned to Ajax but lasted only half a season before being sacked.

However, Ajax’s results – including a 6-0 drubbing to AZ Alkmaar in the KNVB Cup – suggest that their problems go beyond who sits in the dugout.

Wayne Burnett

Little about Burnett’s non-league coaching career – Fisher Athletic, Dulwich Hamlet, Dagenham & Redbridge – pointed to a future at the top Premier League level.

A grizzled veteran of the lower reaches of England’s football pyramid, Burnett is lacking in glamour. He’s been going under the radar, serving as Tottenham’s Under-21 coach for almost a decade.

His name has rarely come up in Tottenham’s other crises and numerous managerial vacancies of the recent past, but we’re approaching ‘needs must’ territory.

A 12-match winning streak in the Premier League 2 a couple of years back suggest there could be something there, while he’s got hands-on experience with the academy graduates in the senior squad.

Tim Sherwood

Don’t laugh.

Alright, you can laugh. We’ve included Sherwood’s name here as the wildcard option if Spurs really want embrace chaos.

The mad thing is that the former midfielder actually did a pretty passable stint in his role at Tottenham last time around.

Sherwood – somehow – boasts the best win percentage (59%) of any Tottenham manager in the modern Premier League era.

But that was a long time ago. The shape of Premier League football after the arrival of Pep Guardiola now has an entirely different complexion to Sherwood’s half-season spell back in 2013-14.

His disastrous stint at Aston Villa, and the general ‘proper football man’ vibe of his punditry, don’t suggest he’s got the chops to do battle with the Premier League’s finest tacticians in 2026.

It’d be fun, though. Maybe not for Spurs fans, but at least there’d be a gallows humour spectacle that the utter misery of Frank’s reign is lacking.

READ NEXT: Predicting the 11 next big manager moves: Tuchel to Man Utd, Poch to Spurs…

A World Cup summer often means a lot of managerial changes and so we’ve got out the crystal ball to see where some famous faces could end up.

It’s a particularly volatile time for managers with the Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid bosses all going and in six months, the merry-go-round could be back underway.

Here’s who we reckon will be where come the first day of next season.

Arne Slot – Out of work

While their form has picked up a little in recent weeks, it is still hard to see Slot surviving beyond the summer.

Had he not won the league the season before, failing to at least challenge for the title after a summer spending of £450million would be grounds for instant dismissal.

The sudden availability of Xabi Alonso will only have put more pressure on the Liverpool boss and even an FA Cup win is unlikely to save him.

Pep Guardiola – Manchester City

There’s been a lot of talk about a post-Pep City but there is not much to suggest he would walk away in the summer.

He has a deal until June 2027 and throughout the entirety of his career, he has never left before a contract end.

So you can expect to see Guardiola in the dugout again next year for what could be his last season in football management.

Xabi Alonso – Liverpool

Alonso is not the first Madrid boss to lose the player power battle with the dressing room and his sacking will have done the club more reputational damage than to him.

Alonso going to Liverpool was an idea suggested two summers ago before the Madrid move came about and now that his time at the Bernabeu is over, him taking over from Slot at Anfield seems a logical move.

He may want a break, but the nature of his dismissal plus the chance to manage a former club may prompt him into a quick return.

Hansi Flick – Barcelona

The two-horse nature of Spanish football means either Real Madrid or Barcelona are always in crisis, depending on which one of them is trailing.

This season, it is Madrid’s turn to have a meltdown with a Super Cup defeat enough to see off Alonso but not everything is perfect over at Barcelona either.

The Catalans are only four points clear of Madrid and are 15th in the Champions League, but it would take an almighty capitulation for Flick to lose his job in the summer.

Mikel Arteta – Arsenal

Arteta’s Arsenal future very much comes down to what silverware the Gunners win this year.

There’s no denying that the Spaniard has done well since taking over in 2019, but there are legitimate questions over whether he can go the final step and win the big trophies.

He is in a good position to do exactly that this season with the team six points clear in the league and top of the Champions League standings.

If he wins at least one of those trophies, then he is surely set to stay. But another trophyless year and Arsenal may have to say thank you but goodbye.

Thomas Tuchel – Manchester United

When England hired Tuchel and gave him a contract that lasted until the end of the World Cup, it was clear what the goal was – win or bust.

Whether England do lift the trophy for the first time in 60 years or not, Tuchel will most likely leave the role after the summer, making him an attractive option for several top clubs.

Of those, Manchester United should be going all out to sign the German. Unless they can’t resist the charms of Michael Carrick.

Wayne Rooney described him as the “outstanding candidate”, and his success with Chelsea in Europe showed he can get a squad moving in the right direction.

But would he want to work with the Glazers? Tuchel has a reputation for falling out with club hierarchies and could be put off after reading about Ruben Amorim’s experience.

Raul – Real Madrid

In the wake of Alonso’s sacking, Madrid were quick to announce that Alvaro Arbeloa would be taking over, but his appointment screams of a temporary one before a more permanent replacement in the summer.

Madrid’s preference to let the players rule the club means getting the right coach can be tricky, as can convincing them to join.

There are rumours Carlo Ancelotti may return and Jurgen Klopp always seems to get linked to this particular job, but Raul may work.

His playing career should demand the respect of the dressing room and he spent six years as Madrid’s academy boss.

Gareth Southgate – Out of work

Southgate’s continued link to the Manchester United job suggests he would consider a move to Old Trafford but in our predicted future, it is Tuchel who gets the gig.

Away from United, Southgate has made it clear he is not hugely fussed about a return to management having left England in the summer of 2024.

He said his next job may even be out of football last November, so don’t expect to see him on the sidelines anytime soon.

Zinedine Zidane – France

Even with him being linked to every big job, Zidane has been waiting on the sidelines since 2021 for a reason – he wants the France job.

He has had to wait patiently with Didier Deschamps having been in charge of Les Bleus since 2012, but this summer’s World Cup will be his seventh and final major tournament.

Zidane has been billed as the natural successor, so expect to see him installed in the days after Deschamps’ departure.

Mauricio Pochettino – Tottenham

Of all the predictions, this one may be the most fanciful, but stick with us.

Pochettino is currently serving as US boss ahead of their home World Cup and things have not been exactly smooth sailing since he joined with some suggesting he has not earned his reported $6m salary.

His contract with the national team runs through to the end of the World Cup and it seems unlikely to be extended bar a miraculous run, so where better to go than to a club that loves him?

Tottenham are in desperate need of an injection of hope and optimism and bringing back the manager who took the club to a Champions League final could achieve that.

Will it work or end in spectacular failure? Even if he didn’t win anything, at least be some positivity around the place.

Lee Carsley – England

If Tuchel does go, the England job will once again be vacant.

But with no immediate need to seek out a replacement, Carsley may be asked to step in again on a caretaker basis.

He may opt to be given the job on a permanent basis, but Tuchel’s appointment showed the FA were willing to go outside their pool for a top name.

Eddie Howe is often linked but it would appear too soon in his career to switch to club management.

READ NEXT: Ranking the 10 worst Premier League caretaker managers ever: Lampard, Shearer, Rangnick…