Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur just four months after his appointment; this is the third time spurs have left management in less than two years. Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho have also coached, reaching the Champions League and League Cup finals respectively
Tottenham Hotspur has experienced turbulent years with varying degrees of success. But how did the Spurs reach their third chance of firing management in two years?
Nuno Espiritu Santo, the latest Premier League casualty, was sacked by Daniel Levy and Tottenham Hotspur's board on Monday morning.
A series of poor performances since then, including a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United in a football match on Saturday night, ultimately cost the Portuguese boss his job.
Antonio Conte – reportedly Tottenham Hotspur's first choice in the summer – has signed an 18-month contract to fill the spot as Spurs hope their season is back on track.
Here we take a look at a roller coaster of a few years and how Tottenham Hotspur started looking for another new manager...
Jose Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino have both been at Tottenham Hotspur over the past few years
August 2018 - Tottenham Hotspur become the first Premier League team to spend the summer transfer window without completing any signings. Mauricio Pochettino was hesitant to criticise Daniel Levy at this point, who was positive about the club's summer, saying: "The club has made a huge effort to try to extend the contract, like Harry Kane did. Retaining our best players is our goal and goal and we've done it. ”
This continued until January 2019, when Tottenham Hotspur again did not join their squad. Pochettino said earlier this month: "We are well aware that summer is always tough, but winter is worse. For us, adding players will certainly be difficult.
'I don't want to add players, but of course, if in the end we have a chance to add the right players we want to try, we are always willing to try to improve the team.
Tottenham Hotspur were beaten in the 2019 Champions League final and Harry Kane made an unexpected return
May 2019 – Tottenham Reach the Champions League final for the first time, but are beaten 2-0 by Liverpool. Their only senior striker, a seemingly unsuitable Harry Kane, has made an unexpected return to the start from injury.
Before the game, Pochettino hinted that he might leave the club, telling reporters: "In order to win the Champions League with Tottenham, in this case, in this season, maybe I need to think about doing something different in the future, because of course.
"Because to repeat this miracle, you know it's impossible."
July 2019 - Asked about Deniros' future and seemingly frustrated by Tottenham Hotspur's transfer policy, an angry Mauricio Pochettino said: "Maybe the club needs to change my title description because my job now is to coach the team. It's not a problem for me, it's a question for the club. ”
However, the summer 2019 transfer window stands in stark contrast to the previous 12 months. Tanky Ndombele signed the club record for £55m – Steven Bergveen, Ryan Seysnion and Jack Clarke combined for £62 million.
November 2019 - New season with 12 games and 14 points, Pochettino was sacked. Tottenham Arettenham are unbeaten in five Premier League games with just three wins. In the third round of the League Cup, Colchester United were eliminated in a penalty shootout, while Bayern Munich were humiliated 7-2 in the Champions League.
"We are very reluctant to make such a change. It's not a hasty decision made by the board of directors, nor is it a hasty decision," Chairman Daniel Levy said.
"The board should have made a tough decision – especially given the many memorable moments we had with Mauricio and his coaching staff – but we did it in the best interests of the club.
November 2019 – Less than 24 hours after the appointment of Jose Mourinho, Levy said: "At Jose, we have one of the most successful managers in football. He has won honors in every club he has coached. We believe he will bring us vitality and faith in the dressing room. ”
It gave Tottenham Hotspur an instant boost. Mourinho has won his first three games in all competitions – despite conceding two goals in each one – but can't find the formula to beat his old club Manchester United.
In April 2021 – just days before the League Cup final – spurs had the opportunity to lift the trophy for the first time in 13 years – Mourinho was sacked. It was the first time since 2002 that he had left the club without winning a trophy.
"On a personal level, I enjoy working with him, but unfortunately things haven't worked out as well as we thought," Levy said.
Former midfielder Ryan Mason coached until the end of the season, when he jumped from academy. He faced baptism of fire in his second game, facing Manchester City in the Wembley final, where Spurs lost 1-0 to Manchester City.
In the six Premier League games he coached, he ended with 4 wins and 2 losses, with Tottenham Hotspur in seventh place, taking a place in the newly formed UEFA League.
May 2021 - In a public statement to club supporters, Levy provided an update on what Tottenham have been looking for a new manager. He wrote: "We are acutely aware of the need to choose someone whose values reflect the values of our great club and re-play in the style we are well known for – free flow, attack and entertainment. ”
Antonio Conte first linked to Tottenham in June
From June to early June 2021, Sky Italia reported that Tottenham were in contact with Antonio Conte, recently appointing his former colleague Fabio Palatici as sporting director. But negotiations soon broke down and the club was reluctant to meet his demands.
There are plenty of other names associated with tortham's vacancy at Tottenham. Paul Fonseca, Gattuso, Julian Nagelsmann, Brendan Rodgers and Eric 10 Haag are all reporting on the candidates, as well as the failed pursuit of Pochettino, bringing him back to the club from Paris Saint-Germain.
June 2021 - Another month later, Nuno was appointed. "We would like to thank our supporters for their patience throughout the process," Levy said.
"I've said the need to get back to the core DNA of us playing offensive, recreational football and [football general manager] Fabio [Palatic] and I believe Nuno is the one who can lead our group of talented players, embrace our young players and create something special."
Nuno added: "When you have a team with strength and talent, we want the fans to be proud and enjoyable. It's a great pleasure and an honor (to come here), to have joy, I'm happy and look forward to getting to work. We don't have any days to lose and we have to start working right away because the pre-season is about to start in a few days. ”
November 2021 - Nuno is fired after just 10 Premier League games in office. Paratic, who was the one who accompanied the Spurs statement, said: "I know how much Nuno and his coaching staff want to be successful and I regret we had to make this decision. ”
About half an hour later, Sky Italia reported that Conte would hold talks with Tottenham in London. It was later confirmed that negotiations to sign an 18-month contract were at an advanced stage.
November 2021 - Just over 24 hours after Nuno's departure, Conte is confirmed as the new Tottenham Hotspur manager.
The Italian, who somehow explained why he didn't end up joining the club in June, told the club's official website: "Our union didn't happen last summer because my relationship with Inter was too close and it was too far-fetched emotionally. The season is over, so I don't think it's the right time to get back to coaching.
"But daniel Levi's infectiousness and determination to entrust me with this task has reached its goal. Now that the opportunity has returned, I have chosen to accept it. ”