MAURICIO POCHETTINO has been sacked by Tottenham after five-and-a-half years in charge following a dismal start to the season – with Jose Mourinho set to take over.
Spurs have failed to win any of their last five matches in the top-flight and sit 14th with just three victories out of 12 games so far.
Tottenham have sacked Mauricio Pochettino with the club 14th in the tableCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Pochettino, 47, took Spurs to the Champions League final five months ago where they lost to LiverpoolCredit: Getty – Contributor
As well as Pochettino, coaches Jesus Perez, Miguel D’Agostino and Antoni Jimenez have also been relieved of their duties.
Spurs fans took to social media to vent their fury at the club’s decision to axe their beloved manager.
A gutted supporter fumed: “Why today. why not do it at the start of the international break so they could have a chance of getting someone in for the next match ffs.”
Several rival fans pointed out that Pochettino failed to end Spurs’ wait since 1984 to win another major trophy.
One cheeky member of the Arsenal faithful posted: “Poch took the best ever Spurs side to zero trophies? Hate to see it.”
But another suggested: “This could be the biggest mistake the club has made.”
BBC pundit and Tottenham legend Gary Lineker also blasted his former club.
The former England striker tweeted: “He helped the club to punch massively above their weight for years. Good luck with finding a better replacement….ain’t gonna happen.”
Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust statement
We’re shocked and saddened to hear our Club has sacked Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff.
During his time at Spurs, Poch gave us many of our best moments as supporters, made Tottenham Hotspur a force to be reckoned with again, and forged a strong link with the fans. We will never forget the joy he brought us.
Of course, results in the league have been disappointing for some time.
But many fans thought Poch had earned the right to turn it around in the first sustained period of poor form we’ve had during his time at the Club.
We now have to look forward and take stock. But there are questions that must be asked of the Board of THFC.
Former Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is in advanced talks to take over from Poch.
SunSport understands both sides are confident they can reach a deal which would see the 56-year-old take charge before Saturday’s crunch clash with West Ham.
Despite not winning a trophy for Spurs, Poch, 47, guided the club to four consecutive Champions League finishes.
Prior to his arrival, Spurs had finished in the top four in just two of their 22 seasons in the Premier League.
He also took the club to the Champions League final last season, but Liverpool prevailed as they won 2-0.
After replacing Tim Sherwood in 2014, Poch took charge of 293 games, winning 159, losing 72 and drawing on 62 occasions.
It is understood that Tottenham will have to pay Pochettino £12.5million as he was contracted to the club until 2023.
In a statement issued by Daniel Levy Levy addressing the shock sacking, he 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.
Pochettino defied the odds last season by taking Tottenham to the European Cup finalCredit: Alamy
Jose Mourinho, who was sacked by Manchester United last season, is in talks to take overCredit: PA:Press Association
“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.”
SunSport previously reported how Spurs’ top target to replace Pochettino is RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann.
Bournemouth gaffer Eddie Howe was also believed to be on the shortlist, along with Napoli’s Carlo Ancelotti, but now the Special One is odds-on to replace the Argentinian.
Poch leaves Spurs after failing to win any of his last five Premier League gamesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Mourinho has been keeping tabs on the situation at Spurs – despite being linked with a return to Real Madrid.
Ladbrokes spokeswoman Jessica Reilly believes that the ex-Chelsea boss will soon be in the Spurs dressing room.
She said: “Early fingers are pointing towards Mourinho leaving the Sky studio for a return to the dug out with Spurs.”
Former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp believes that the players have got Poch the sack due to their dire performances.
He told Sky Sports: “They’ve obviously pushed the panic button. When people talk about all the players loving him, if they loved him that much maybe they should have done a bit better for him.
“At the end of the day they’ve got him the sack as they have not been good enough. They’ve had one Champions League final. If you look back at the run, everything went their way a bit.
“They haven’t won a trophy for five or six years with a team full of internationals and possible the best No 9 in the world.
“Look at the quality they have – and they haven’t won anything. Not making the Champions League is a disaster in Daniel Levy’s and Joe Lewis’ eyes with the money they have invested.
“These are ruthless businessmen. They will have spoken to somebody, I know how they work.
“They’re not suddenly going to start looking for a new manager, all their work would have been done behind the scenes already. They spoke to both Brendan Rodgers and Carlo Ancelotti before they sacked me.”
Tottenham face West Ham at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, with the Hammers to leapfrog their London rivals should they claim the three points.
Mauricio Pochettino jokes: If Levy sacked me, I could never manage Arsenal!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
