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Premier League: Spurs sack Mauricio Pochettino just five months after reaching Champions League final

Less than six months after leading Tottenham to the Champions League final, Mauricio Pochettino has been dumped by the English club. A familiar face is being tipped to replace him.

Just five months after taking Spurs to the UCL decider, Mauricio Pochettino is out.
Just five months after taking Spurs to the UCL decider, Mauricio Pochettino is out.

Tottenham Hotspur have sacked manager Mauricio Pochettino following a miserable start to the season for last season’s Champions League finalists, with Jose Mourinho reportedly poised to replace the Argentine.

Mourinho is the favourite to take over with Sky Sports reporting that Spurs could close a deal with the Portuguese, who has been out of work since being sacked by Manchester United 11 months ago.

Tottenham sit 14th in England’s top flight after picking up just three wins from their opening 12 games, and were eliminated from the League Cup in September by fourth-tier Colchester United.

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Just five months after taking Spurs to the UCL decider, Mauricio Pochettino is out
Just five months after taking Spurs to the UCL decider, Mauricio Pochettino is out

“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,” Tottenham said in a statement.

Pochettino, 47, transformed Spurs’ fortunes since arriving from Southampton in 2014 despite failing to win a trophy in his five-and-a-half years in charge.

During his five full seasons in charge, Tottenham qualified for the Champions League four times, culminating in a dramatic run to the club’s first ever European Cup final in June, which they lost 2-0 to Liverpool in Madrid.

However, domestically results have been on the decline since February, with Spurs clinging onto a top-four finish last season despite winning just three of their final 12 league games.

That form has continued at the start of this season with Pochettino leaving the club already 11 points outside the Premier League top four and 20 behind leaders Liverpool.

“We were extremely reluctant to make this change and it is not a decision the board has taken lightly, nor in haste,” said Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.

Jose Mourinho looks set to be unveiled as the next Spurs manager.
Jose Mourinho looks set to be unveiled as the next Spurs manager.

“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.”

The job done by Pochettino was all the more remarkable given the tight budget he was afforded by Levy for transfers and wages in comparison to Tottenham’s Premier League rivals.

Instead, much of Pochettino’s success came from nurturing a squad of young players into household names such as Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen.

“I can’t thank this man enough,” Alli tweeted alongside a picture of Pochettino with the England international.

“He’s taught me so much and I’m so grateful for everything he’s done for me. Good luck and hope to see you again my friend.”

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/premier-league/premier-league-spurs-sack-mauricio-pochettino-just-five-months-after-reaching-champions-league-final/news-story/bdacbd1be6f0407eb07d99c093fd08fa