Tottenham Hotspur has sacked their long-serving manager Mauricio Pochettino after more than five years in charge of the North London club.
The Argentine enjoyed plenty of success with The Lilywhites during his stint as they qualified for the Champions League each season and even made the final of that competition last season where they eventually lost to Premier League rivals, Liverpool.
Pochettino exits the club almost six months to the day of ushering Spurs in the Champions League final. Officially, his final record will be 160 wins, 60 draws and 73 losses. For all of the turnaround, he has managed into the club, the former Southampton boss leave without a major trophy won for the North London club.
However, Spurs have failed to build on last season’s exploits this term. As well as their disappointing league form, they were knocked out the League Cup by League Two side Colchester and hammered 7-2 at home by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
In a club statement on Tuesday evening, chairman Daniel Levy wrote: “We were extremely reluctant to make this change and it is not a decision the Board has taken lightly, nor in haste.”
Spurs are currently 14th in the table, six points above the relegation zone and 11 points away from the top-four.
“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.
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“Mauricio and his coaching staff will always be part of our history. I have the utmost admiration for the manner in which he dealt with the difficult times away from a home ground whilst we built the new stadium and for the warmth and positivity he brought to us.
“I should like to thank him and his coaching staff for all they have contributed. They will always be welcome here.”
Spurs will now assess their options as they search for a new manager but in the mean time, Levy is confident in the club’s players.
“We have a talented squad. We need to re-energize and look to deliver a positive season for our supporters.”
