Jose Mourinho has been named the new Tottenham Hotspur manager after the club parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino.
Tottenham’s separation with Pochettino was reported on Tuesday night. Before the punditocracy could begin to speculate on his replacement in earnest, Mourinho was announced on Wednesday morning.
Considering that this has been building up for a while, Pochettino’s sacking still feels like a shock. Clearly, there have been some relationship breakdowns at Spurs. That the official club statement describes the Argentine as being “relieved of his duties” is quite telling.
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“The Club can today announce that Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff Jesus Perez, Miguel D’Agostino and Antoni Jimenez have been relieved of their duties.
“Chairman, Daniel Levy, said: ‘We were extremely reluctant to make this change and it is not a decision the Board has taken lightly, nor in haste.
‘Regrettably domestic results at the end of last season and beginning of this season have been extremely disappointing.
‘It falls to the Board to make the difficult decisions – this one made more so given the many memorable moments we have had with Mauricio and his coaching staff – but we do so in the Club’s best interests.
‘Mauricio and his coaching staff will always be part of our history. I have the utmost admiration for the manner in which he dealt with the difficult times away from a home ground whilst we built the new stadium and for the warmth and positivity he brought to us. I should like to thank him and his coaching staff for all they have contributed. They will always be welcome here.
‘We have a talented squad. We need to re-energise and look to deliver a positive season for our supporters.”
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“The quality in both the squad and the academy excites me,” said Jose Mourinho.
“Working with these players is what has attracted me.”
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said: “In Jose we have one of the most successful managers in football.
“He has won honours at every club he has coached,” he added. “We believe he will bring energy and belief to the dressing room.”
