Tottenham Hotspur decided to sack José Mourinho in April 2021 after just seventeen months in charge of the club.
It was the first time the Portuguese manager had left a club without winning a trophy for close to 20 years and he was replaced by former Spurs player, Ryan Mason.
👌🏻 https://t.co/02X1yk61b9— Ryan Mason (@RyanMason) June 13, 2021
👌🏻 https://t.co/02X1yk61b9
This was a temporary solution while the club search for a new permanent manager but fast forward to June 2021 and they have yet to announce a new manager at the club.
Time is running out for chairman Daniel Levy and the pursuit of a new manager is becoming a bit of a farce. Julian Nagelsmann was the first big name manager to be linked with the club but he opted to join Bayern Munich.
Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag was also highlighted as a potential candidate but he decided to extend his contract in Holland. Brendan Rodgers was another high profile name to be mentioned but he is adamant he is committed to Leicester City.
Antonio Conte, Paulo Fonseca, Gennaro Gattuso, and Julen Lopetegui have all been linked with the vacant position but for one reason or another, they have not been appointed.
That leaves us with Nuno Espirito Santo, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager. The Portuguese coach left Molineux at the end of the 2020/21 season following four years in charge of the club. Espirito Santo took Wolves from the Championship title in his first season to 7th place in the Premier League.
Having finished in 7th place in successive Premier League seasons, Wolves finished 13th last season, which was a little disappointing but the club were without key striker, Raúl Jiménez, for much of the campaign.
Espirito Santo coached Rio Ave, Valencia, and Porto prior to his arrival at Wolves and has forged a great reputation in English football. He has won the Premier League Manager of the Month award on three occasions and was named the 2017/18 EFL Championship Manager of the Season.
When Wolves were at their best under Espirito Santo, they adopted a 3-4-3 formation.
The organisation of the team was critical to the success of Wolves and at times, they were good to watch but there were many times when organisation and defending came first, often at the expense of attacking football.
The wing-backs played a key role for Espirito Santo at Wolves, both in defence and going forward. Matt Doherty, who was fantastic for Wolves under Espirito Santo, is now a Spurs player and the club have Sergio Reguilón, who is highly capable of fulfilling the role on the left.
A good shape and remaining compact were key ingredients during Espirito Santo’s time at Wolves but is this going to but suitable or acceptable at Spurs?
There has always been a demand for exciting, attacking football at Spurs and although Espirito Santo is capable of producing high pressing, energetic football, can he deliver the style of play Spurs fans desire, in addition to winning a trophy?