Five managers who can replace Nuno Espirito Santo at Tottenham Hotspur

The tactician has won just eight of his 16 matches as Spurs manager.

Nuno Espírito Santo is feeling the heat since he took over the position as manager of Tottenham Hotspur. The tactician joined the London-based club after an impressive spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers. His tenure started on a strong note, winning the first three Premier League games, including a win over Manchester City.

However, since then, the club have lost their way, with several players under-performing, including skipper Harry Kane. The shock defeat to Dutch side SBV Vitesse in the UEFA Europa Conference League has put him under the scanner. There is a lack of identity while going forward and Spurs have already lost four London derbies in the league this season.

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The victories too have come in close encounters and every game Santo oversees feels like it could go either way. A recent defeat to West Ham sums up Spurs’ situation, where they had only 0.6 expected goals (xG). A lack of attacking intent and faith in the squad has affected results in recent times. If this keeps up, the situation where Nuno could be relieved of his duties is not far. 

In a situation where he loses his position, there are many notable managers available to take the spot. Here are the top five managers who would be the best candidates to replace Nuno Espirito Santo at Tottenham Hotspur:

Jurgen Klinsmann

There is a possibility that Spurs could follow suit to what many other clubs have done in recent times. They could appoint a former player as manager and the figure that fits the profile is Jurgen Klinsmann. The German was the manager of the German national team that finished third at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Since then, he has managed the USA national team and most recently Hertha Berlin in the German Bundesliga. 

As a player, he scored 38 goals and made 15 assists in 65 matches for Spurs across two different spells. He also won the first-ever Player of the Month award in the Premier League era. He understands the philosophy of the club, which is built on playing attacking football. The pragmatic approach of Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo has not worked at the club. Klinsmann is without a club and could be the perfect appointment.

Eddie Howe

Eddie Howe is still without a club after parting ways with AFC Bournemouth. Managing the club for eight years and guiding them to the Premier League from the lower divisions was a massive achievement. Furthermore, Howe’s Bournemouth played fluid football and earned a lot of praise for the tactics on display. Working with minimal resources, Eddie Howe brought out the best from his squad.

This quality will be essential at Spurs and something Daniel Levy would really appreciate. The London-based club need a figure who understands the intricacies of English football and can identify good domestic players. Eddie Howe will certainly improve the quality of football and most likely bring success, with better resources at hand at Tottenham Hotspur.

Graham Potter

Graham Potter has a lot of suitors lining up for him. His work with Brighton & Hove Albion has not gone unnoticed and brought fair recognition. The Englishman has established a great system at Brighton, producing entertaining football with minimal resources. He has an incredible eye for talent, which is going to help Spurs recruit players better suited for his system.

There are several players in the current lineup who look disjointed. Chopping and changing managers is one of the primary reasons for a lack of identity at the club. Graham Potter could steady the ship since he works well under pressure. The Seagulls are reaping the rewards this term, sitting in fifth place after nine games in the league. 

Mauricio Pochettino

Several reliable media outlets confirmed recently that former manager Mauricio Pochettino is open to a return. The former Spurs boss led the club to the UEFA Champions League final in 2018-19. However, after getting sacked and replaced by Mourinho, he joined Paris Saint-Germain. He has been on the receiving end of a lot of criticism after losing the Ligue 1 title to Lille, despite having a squad full of superstars.

In a situation where Pochettino is available, Spurs will look to bring him back. The Argentine was impressive with the London-based club, overachieving with the available resources. The hierarchy at the club are strongly looking at the tactician and hoping that PSG will be open to letting him go.

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Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers is one of the managers who is in high demand at various elite clubs. Manchester United, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are some of the clubs strongly linked with Rodgers. The current Leicester City tactician has found a fair amount of success with the resources available to him, constantly challenging for a top-four finish. 

The Foxes have narrowly missed out on finishing amongst the Champions League spots, while playing entertaining attacking football. At Tottenham, Rodgers will have a better overall squad to work with. He seems an ideal replacement for Nuno, since he is well-versed with the Premier League and very practical in his approach.

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