It’s not often that a Jose Mourinho looting plays a second fiddle on the football news cycle, but here we are.
On the same day that the plans for a new Super League were announced, described and panned across the board, Tottenham struggled with their boss to capture attention. When the dust settles, however, it looks like a pretty big deal for the Premier League.
Not only is Mourinho back in the market to force his eye-popping football brand into a new, unsuspecting club in hell to stay relevant, but Spurs are looking for a new boss.
A few quick words about Mourinho’s dismissal for @ 90min_Football. There are still good players in that Tottenham group, let no Mourinistas say otherwise https://t.co/kyIslhyH6q
– Jude Summerfield (@judesummerfield) April 19, 2021
And although the job is not as attractive as it was back when Mauricio Pochettino got his marching orders, the club will not have to look far for good managers who want a crack at the whip.
We have looked at some of the serious challengers and ranked them on their suitability, as well as their chances of actually getting the job.
Benitez most recently succeeded in the Premier League with Newcastle | Alex Broadway / Getty Images
If Spurs want an immediate time to come in and set the ship, they could do worse than Rafa Benitez. The Spaniard’s stock is pretty low after a year in China, but the guy knows what he’s doing and there are few better places to immediately galvanize them in their attempt to make Europe.
There are huge questions about whether Spurs are prepared to make a temporary meeting with only a handful of games left, or whether Benitez would like to take a job that he has little chance of landing in the long run.
But who knows? We’ve seen a lot of strange things.
Probability rating: 2/10Suitability rating: 3/10
Simeone is interested in the job | CRISTINA QUICLER / Getty Images
90 minutes understands that Atletico Madrid boss Simeone is believed to be open to a new challenge next season, and has announced that he would be interested in Tottenham if the job opens.
Yes, Diego – your move.
Argentina’s authoritarian leadership would take Mourinho’s plans to take the Spurs squad to a new level. After spending ten years in Madrid, it is also easy to see why he might want a new challenge.
Simeone could basically choose his jobs if he were to leave, so maybe not jump at the chance to deal with Spurs. That would be a sign of intent on Levy’s, albeit a different risky one given his volatile personality. Probability ratio: 3/10 Suitability rating: 4/10
Allegri is still one of Italian football’s most respected managers | LUCAS BARIOULET / Getty Images
There are serious “Mourinho” vibes about this one. The only difference is that Allegri has not yet deteriorated his reputation as top manager by refueling it at Manchester United.
The Italian has been out of the lead for two years now and has been strongly linked to a return to Juventus, which he left in 2019.
But he’s one of the names on Spurs’ radar, and if their focus is still on winning things in the short term, there are few better for it than Allegri. He won five straight Serie A titles in Turin.
His availability on a free is also a big plus.Probability rating: 5/10 Suitability rating: 5/10
Can Santo be on his way to north London? | Alex Livesey / Getty Images
He may look like a character giving you Skyrim quests, but Nuno Espirito Santo is one of the most exciting and tactically skilled managers in the Premier League.
A disappointment over the 2020/21 season, that Wolves are now expected to compete for seventh is proof of the work he has done.
He may have ambitions to take them even further, but you get the feeling that the next step is not too far away for the 47-year-old. It can be argued that Spurs are not too much of a step up from Wolves at the moment, but the chance to work with superior players and greater resources has its appeal.
The big criticism would be that he barely won anything, but neither did Pochettino when he took the reins.
Probability: 5/10Suitability assessment: 6/10
The face of a man who can have any job he wants | Boris Streubel / Getty Images
Inexperience is the cry when it comes to RB Leipzig boss Nagelsmann, but the youngest coach in Bundesliga history does a spectacular job.
He has only five seasons in the lead, but he has already taken Hoffenheim from a relegation scrap to the Champions League and made RB Leipzig a real title challenger. He has the midas touch, and if there is any real chance that Spurs will land him, they must surely go in.
The doubt here stems from Nagelsmann’s camp. He is one of the favorites for the job, but only 33 years old, he has no reason to hurry. He will be one of the leading challengers for all jobs that open this summer, so all clubs that want him must stand out from the pack – cue Bayern Munich …
Probability ratio: 4/10 Suitability rating: 7/10
Gerrard shines after his side won a new Old Firm Derby | Ian MacNicol / Getty Images
Some will put the tedious argument that the lack of Premier League titles in Steven Gerrard’s trophy cabinet is a sign that he is not a winner. It ignores, of course, the fact that he won literally everything else, now including a Scottish premiere.
To overthrow Celtic would never be easy, but given the time of Rangers, Gerrard has done it in style. Their Glasgow rivals have not been much police this season, but even at their best they would have struggled to get close to a Rangers team that has so far conceded just 11 goals in 34 league games.
Gerrard needs to take a little convincing to leave Rangers now. He wants a crack in the Champions League in Ibrox, and in reality only the Liverpool job might turn his head.
But that should not stop Spurs from trying.
Probability: 5/10Suitability rating: 8/10
“Who wants the Tottenham job?” | NEIL HALL / Getty Images
Mourinho’s departure from Tottenham has been underway for some time. Levy and the board have been considering their options for weeks and 90 minutes was told in March that Leicester boss Rodgers was their favorite to take over.
It makes sense from all angles. A high-performing manager with a history of winning trophies, but still rebuilding his reputation after failing to win the league with Liverpool.
Leicester will no doubt fight if there is a strategy from a Premier League rival. And given that they may very well be in the Champions League next season, they can approach negotiations from a strong position.
Spurs are the kind of club that Rodgers will have to join one day if he wants to return to a true elite level. If he could rebuild them to what they were under Mauricio Pochettino – and perhaps take them a shade beyond that – it would benefit everyone.
Probability rating: 6/10 Suitability rating: 9/10
