Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino signs on to take charge at Tottenham Hotspur

TOTTENHAM Hotspur have signed Mauricio Pochettino as the club’s new manager on a five-year contract.

New boss ... Southampton's manager Mauricio Pochettino has been signed on to look after T

TOTTENHAM Hotspur have signed Mauricio Pochettino as the club’s new manager on a five-year contract, with the former Argentina defender making the move from fellow Premier League side Southampton.

Pochettino was tipped to take charge at White Hart Lane following the recent sacking of Tim Sherwood and the London club confirmed they have persuaded the 42-year-old, who had earned widespread praise during his time as Southampton boss, to quit his post at St Mary’s and move to north London.

“The club is delighted to announce the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as our new head coach on a five-year contract,” a statement on Tottenham’s website announced.

Pochettino is the eighth permanent manager to be appointed in Spurs chairman Daniel Levy’s 13 years at the club.

“In Mauricio I believe we have a head coach who, with his high energy, attacking football, will embrace the style of play we associate with our club,” Levy said in a statement.

“He has a proven ability to develop each player as an individual, whilst building great team spirit and a winning mentality. We have a talented squad that Mauricio is excited to be coaching next season.”

Pochettino, who will work under Spurs director of football Franco Baldini, admitted he was delighted to be given the opportunity to manage a club of Tottenham’s stature.

Mauricio Pochettino with Gabriel Batistuta during the 2002 World Cup.

Pochettino pledged to stay faithful to the club’s philosophy of attacking play, while also fulfilling their desire to play in the Champions League on a regular basis.

“This is a club with tremendous history and prestige and I am honoured to have been given this opportunity to be its head coach,” he said.

“There is an abundance of top-class talent at the club and I am looking forward to starting work with the squad.

“Tottenham Hotspur has a huge following across the world and I have great admiration for the passion the fans show for this team.

“We are determined to give the supporters the kind of attacking football and success that we are all looking to achieve.”

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy made his approach to Pochettino after finally ruling out an offer for Carlo Ancelotti, who had been on his wanted list before the Italian’s Champions League triumph with Real Madrid made him an impossible target.