The hunt for the next Tottenham manager continues to provoke speculation and comment with a new name in the frame already being strongly advised to avoid taking the vacancy at the north London giants.
Spurs are on the lookout for a new boss having parted ways with Antonio Conte on Sunday night. The Italian exited the club by mutual agreement having been in charge for just 16 months. But with his deal due to expire in the summer, his final act as manager was a brutal public dismantling of the club in the wake of their 3-3 draw at Southampton.
Conte led Tottenham back into the Champions League in the wake of his arrival last summer. And having spent around £200m on new players, the Italian could not complain at a lack of transfer funds.
Sadly, though, he was unable to end their long 15-year wait to win silverware. In fact, during one brutal week earlier this month, Tottenham crashed out of both the FA Cup and Champions League, extinguishing their final trophy hopes.
Now the club are on the lookout for their fourth manager in the last three-and-a-half years. Prior to Conte, neither Jose Mourinho or Nuno Espirito Santo lasted long in the hotseat.
However, that has not prevented a whole host of big names to be linked with the job.
That current favourite is former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann, though competition for him is tough.
Former coach Mauricio Pochettino is also being considered for a return, while Oliver Glasner is also admired.
However, another Bundesliga coach has very quickly turned his nose up at the job.
Arne Slot warned against taking Tottenham job
For the time being at least, Spurs are preparing for their return to Premier League action under the control of Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason.
However, two new names have now seemingly come under Tottenham’s radar with one multiple trophy-winning international boss now a contender.
Now the name of Feyenoord boss Arne Slot has also been mentioned as a potential option.
He was recently the subject of interest from Leeds as they looked to fill the vacancy created by Jesse Marsch’s sacking.
The Dutchman, though, opted to stay put as he looks to steer the Rotterdam club to Eredivisive glory.
Tottenham, though, could offer Slot an even bigger decision, altogether.
However, former Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, Werder Bremen and Anderlecht manager, Aad de Mos, has urged Slot to avoid making a big mistake by moving to Spurs.
And calling the job a ‘graveyard’, he suggests chairman Daniel Levy could also be a reason to stay well clear.
“I would not do that if I was Arne Slot,” De Mos told Soccernews. “Tottenham is a graveyard for coaches, as it has turned out recently. Whoever has been a coach in recent years, there is not a single coach who has managed to keep above water.
“Pochettino did, but the rest have all been dismissed and I think Conte has said things very clear: it is not easy to work with that chairman, it is not easy to work with players who have been there so long, from Lloris to Kane, from Son to Dier.”
Daniel Levy difficult to work with
De Mos continued: “It remains a difficult business when you are dealing with a chairman like Levy.
“It’s been a long time since they ever won anything. I was a huge fan of them as a boy of 10, 12, with Tommy Smith, with Danny Blanchflower, with Dave Mackay, John White, they were great players and a great club.”
He added: “I have always had warm memories of the Spurs, one of my favourite clubs to go to.
“Unfortunately, if the situation at such a club is not one hundred percent pure, you will see it in the results.
“They stay behind, compared to Arsenal, Manchester City, or Chelsea, or Liverpool.”
De Mos’ words will certainly ring true with plenty of Tottenham fans eager to see the back of Levy.
Their supporters group wrote to the chairman earlier this season expressing concern at the direction the club was heading in. It is unlikely that their stance will have altered amid recent events.
And Spurs will need and hope to get their next appointment right in the wake of some disappointing failures of late.
