It’s safe to say that Tottenham‘s season under Antonio Conte didn’t go anywhere near as many had originally expected. After guiding Tottenham back to the Champions League and being backed by the board, there was a sense that this would be the season that Spurs would finally break that long-awaited trophy drought. Not only this, many thought that they could be outside challengers to win the Premier League title.
However, those Premier League chances quickly evaporated and so did their hopes of winning a trophy. Domestically, Nottingham Forest eliminated them from the EFL Cup and then Sheffield United would do the same in the FA Cup. Meanwhile, they were eliminated in the Round of 16 of the Champions League by AC Milan who had not reached the knockout stages of the competition since the 2013/2014 season. As a result, tension between Conte and the team (as well as the board) constantly grew and would lead to his sacking after his infamous rant at Southampton. A rant where he blamed the team’s weak mentality on Tottenham’s board for their lack of ambition.
Already, rumors are circulating about potential replacements, with reports suggesting that the club not only want a manager with an attacking style of play, but who can also work with developing academy/up-and-coming players. This is important because Tottenham don’t have the budget that other teams have and will need somebody that can work within these restrictions. However, while the playing style is important, they should also be looking for a manager who can change the team’s mindset and instill a toughness that Tottenham have historically lacked.
Despite challenging on some occasions for the Premier League title and becoming Champions League regulars, Tottenham have historically been mocked for crumbling every time they’ve had the opportunity to win a trophy; becoming known as Spursy. To begin changing this, Tottenham’s hierarchy should be searching for a manager who is not only doing a good job, but that is getting his team to punch way above their own weight; whether it’s winning a title or simply getting an average side to be fighting for Champions League qualification.
The reason for this is because a team that’s playing way above its limitations has to have not only a sense of belief, but also a tough mindset to withstand the pressure, which usually comes from the manager. While the leading candidates include Julian Nagelsmann, Vincent Kompany, Luis Enrique, Roberto De Zerbi, and Arne Slot, there are some other managers who haven’t been mentioned that can make a significant impact and change Tottenham’s determination. Who are some of those overlooked managers that Tottenham should also be considering?
Rúben Amorim – Sporting CP
His rise to the top has been quite extraordinary. Before the 2019/2020 season, Amorim began the campaign as a reserve team coach at SC Braga before then replacing the first team manager a few months later. In his brief spell with SC Braga, he would win the Portuguese League Cup against FC Porto and didn’t lose any domestic games.
That caught the attention of Sporting CP who didn’t even wait for that season to conclude as they would pay SC Braga a hefty fee to sign him just two months after making his first division debut. What would be even more interesting is that he would manage Sporting CP after having previously appeared in 153 games with SL Benfica (Sporting CP’s arch-rival) during his playing career.
Before signing, Sporting CP hadn’t won the Portuguese league since the 2001/2002 season. Despite leading a new team in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, he would change the team’s fortunes by winning the Primeira Liga (Portuguese league) in 2021. Sporting CP would also win the Portuguese Supercup and two Portuguese League Cups under his guidance.
Along with this, they eliminated Arsenal this season in the Europa League round of 16 stage, which will be well viewed by Tottenham supporters. All this while playing an attacking style that is possession-based and with an adaptable back-three formation. Additionally, he’s help young players develop their game, which has then seen Sporting CP sell them for enormous amounts, such as Pedro Porro, Nuno Mendes, and Matheus Nunes.
A manager who gets a team to punch way above their weight, has won trophies, favors an attacking style of play, can manage academy/up-and-coming players, and has even beaten Arsenal on the continental stage. Amorim ticks all the boxes for what Tottenham are looking for and could be a successful choice if he is given the necessary backing from the hierarchy.
Marcelo Gallardo – Formerly at River Plate
It still remains a mystery as to how the former River Plate manager is still not coaching in any top European league after everything he’s has achieved. Particularly in France where he played with AS Monaco and then with PSG for a season. Gallardo signed in 2014, a couple of seasons after the River Plate’s historic relegation, and instantly changed the dynamics of the club, which included winning the Copa Libertadores in 2015.
He’s worked with and developed elite players, such as Rafael Santos Borré (Eintracht Frankfurt), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), and Julián Álvarez (Manchester City). Additionally, his River Plate side has been known for playing an attacking style of play, which has led them to winning every domestic title possible; along with more continental success in 2018.
On that occasion, Tottenham fans were able to get a closer look at how his teams play when the Copa Libertadores final was famously moved to the Bernabéu (Real Madrid’s stadium) where River Plate defeated their arch-rivals Boca Juniors to claim the title.
Despite his success, his lack of managerial experience in the European game and the fact he didn’t manage nor play in the Premier League (along with the language barrier) would make it extremely difficult to gain the immediate support of the fans. Not to mention that Tottenham’s hierarchy is under immense pressure and can’t get the next managerial section wrong. While Spurs fans are generally patient with their managers, let’s also not forget that they quickly turned on Nuno Espírito Santo who was hired to lead the 2021/2022 campaign and then sacked after only 17 games in charge.
However, the person that would be least phased by this is Gallardo as the Argentine media and fans are well known for their increased persistence. Along with this, Gallardo would instill that fighting mindset as Argentine managers (and players) are well known for having fight and grit. If Tottenham’s hierarchy and fans would be patient, Gallardo could be a successful choice.
Andoni Iraola – Rayo Vallecano
Even though he‘s still yet to win a title as a manager, it doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s been able to achieve so much with so little in his brief coaching spells. After beginning his managerial career in Cyprus with of AEK Larnaca in 2018, he would then take charge of CD Mirandés in the 2019/2020 season, who were in the second tier and one of the teams favored to be relegated.
Despite those concerns, not only did he keep them away from the relegation fight, but he also took them all the way to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey; beating along the way Celta, Sevilla, and Villarreal, before then being eliminated by Real Sociedad in a two-legged encounter.
That caught the attention of Rayo Vallecano, who signed him the very next season with the intention of promoting the team back to the first division. Despite taking over in the midsts of the COVID pandemic and at one point even being on the brink of losing his position, he was able to get the team into the last position for the promotion playoff and then defeated the favorites to bring Rayo back to the top division.
As the 2021/2022 season began, Rayo Vallecano first season back in the top division was, as expected, to stave off relegation. Not only did he keep them away from the relegation fight, Rayo came up with some important results, such as beating Barcelona in both league fixtures. Along with this, they also made it to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey where they would be eliminated by Betis in the last minute of the second leg encounter.
This year, Rayo has taken it up a notch by beating both La Liga giants and having serious possibilities of qualifying for the Conference League next season. All this while managing a squad that’s known for its tight budget and often relying on loanees to form their team.
Having spent most of the his playing career with Athletic Bilbao, Iraola was one of those players who was destined to become a manager and he got the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the game. His experiences under Marcelo Bielsa, Joaquín Caparrós, and Ernesto Valverde have served him well and is reflected in the way his teams plays with an imposing attack, while having a solid defense.
Most importantly, his teams have a fighting attitude and grit, which makes them a challenge to play against even for the top sides. Recently, it was reported that he had turned down a mid-season offer to manage Leeds United, but it probably won’t be the last time that either Leeds or some other Premier League team comes knocking for his services.
It would be a risky decision to hire a manager who has never coached (or even played) in the Premier League and is still unproven at the top level. Not to mention the pressure that Tottenham’s board would be under if the team doesn’t get off to the best start under his guidances. However, if the club’s hierarchy is patient and gives him the necessary backing, Iraola could the solution to Tottenham’s problems.
Javier Martinez is a seasoned veteran of football coverage and an expert on Spanish football. He has been covering world football for more than seven years with bylines at outlets such as The 18 and The Real Champs.