Tottenham Hotspur are on the search for their next manager and several names have been linked with the vacant position…
What’s the word?
Daniel Levy sensationally sacked Jose Mourinho earlier this week after a topsy-turvy 17 months in charge, though the writing was on the wall two months ago when the Telegraph suggested his position was under threat if their form didn’t improve.
90min then added fuel to the fire by claiming that the Spurs hierarchy had already drawn up a shortlist of potential candidates, in which Scottish Premiership champion Steven Gerrard was named.
He’s since been backed for the job following developments this week – speaking in The Times, Tony Cascarino said:
“One manager who looks capable of filling that role [at Spurs] is Steven Gerrard. People say he will be the next Liverpool manager but maybe not, or, if so, perhaps he will do another job before then. What he has done at Rangers is extraordinary: the way he handles himself in interviews and the huge improvement of the team on the pitch. Would he excite the likes of Harry Kane? I would say he would.”
Alli boost
Given his deep ties to Anfield, it remains to be seen if Gerrard would swap Rangers for an old Premier League rival but it certainly didn’t stop Jose Mourinho and would have to be considered a major step up from the Scottish top-flight.
This year’s title victory is several years culmination of the blood, sweat and tears that the former England midfielder has put into his coaching career north of the border, and in reality, is one’s just desserts for his managerial ability.
Over 166 matches, the Gers boss has managed a 65.6% win rate, vastly clear of Mourinho at Spurs (52.3%) and for better comparison, he’s tracking the phenomenal work of Brendan Rodgers, who left Celtic with a 69.8% win rate.
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He’s done pretty well since returning to England, too, with Leicester sat in third-place, looking every bit like a Europe-chasing side – unlike Spurs.
Gerrard’s alternating 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 system would bring that attack-minded style of football that Levy is thought to be pursuing in his next manager.
As described by The Coaches Voice, ‘Committing numbers forward and attacking around opposing defensive blocks ultimately represent two consistent and prominent features of the nature of attack Gerrard demands; to that end, Rangers also regularly deliver crosses into the penalty area.’
Many of Spurs’ current stars could benefit from the 40-year-old as a result, but none more so than Dele Alli, who was once compared to the Liverpool talisman.
“I’ve got to say that I loved Stevie G as a player and Scholesy but Dele Alli for his age is just a freak of a talent,” once claimed Darren Anderton. “I love his arrogance on the pitch, how clever he is in finding the positions that he does and his willingness to try everything. He is a real joy to watch.”
It was only in 2016/17 that Alli bagged a whopping 18 league goals from midfield and clinched a second ‘Young PFA Player of the Year’ award, a feat only done twice in history before.
Under Mourinho, the 25-year-old has become a forgotten man to the point of almost leaving for Paris Saint-Germain in January. He has played only 234 minutes in the top-flight this campaign.
If anyone is to bring out the best in Alli, then it’s surely Gerrard, who the Spurs midfielder can become a carbon copy of.
AND in other news, Spurs, ENIC and Levy hit with blow amid fresh European Super League claim…