The news Spurs fans were fearing filtered into the Transfer Tavern last night: one of Spain’s big two will be looking for a new manager next season.
Barcelona’s Luis Enrique has announced that he will be stepping down when 2016/17 comes to an end, and with the Catalans boasting one of the best teams on the planet and a rich history, Mauricio Pochettino may be tempted amid links between himself and the Blaugrana. The Argentine knows the city well after managing rivals Espanyol and with the Nou Camp dugout representing one of the true pinnacles of the sport, it would be a clear step up for him.
This would, of course, be bad news for Tottenham, with ‘Poch’ having been excellent at White Hart Lane. The former Southampton man took them close to the title last season and ensured a return to Champions League football, all while bringing through the likes of Harry Kane and Dele Alli – two of English football’s finest talents.
Alas, it wouldn’t be the end of the world, and our landlord thinks these TWO managers could do a good job in north London…
Frank de Boer
Currently out of work after a less than successful stint at Inter Milan, De Boer is an intriguing potential option. Linked with Spurs in 2014, the Dutchman boasts a good managerial record if you ignore his spell in Serie A, which should, perhaps, be the case with the former Netherlands international controlling on-field matters while a host of big changes surrounding ownership at the San Siro bubbled away in the background.
Prior to his Inter reign, De Boer won four Eredivisie titles back-to-back between 2010/11 and 2013/14, helping the Amsterdam club back to the pinnacle of the Dutch game after a spell behind PSV Eindhoven as top dogs – which was even punctuated by title success for AZ Alkmaar and FC Twente.
Interestingly, De Boer has a good track record of nurturing emerging talent – a key philosophy at Ajax – and his typically Dutch 4-3-3 approach is one that the club’s current players could be moulded into.
Massimiliano Allegri
Italian outlet calciomercato.com recently claimed that Allegri is already being thought about at White Hart Lane, which has excited Spurs punters in the Tavern. The Italian has picked up where Antonio Conte left off at Juventus since 2014, guiding the Old Lady to back-to-back Serie A titles, while taking them to the final of the Champions League in 2015.
Although it may seem a little ambitious to target a manger with one of the best jobs in football, Allegri has come under some pressure in Italy this season and may indeed be seeking a new challenge, which he could find in north London. The Lilywhites have a promising future and the chance to get in on the ground floor and might tempt him, as would promising players such as Harry Kane and Dele Alli.
Allegri’s Juventus operate with a 3-5-2 formation, and with Spurs having looked extremely effective with a similar set-up, the transition may be relatively smooth.
