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Mauricio Pochettino to join Tottenham: Spurs in 'advanced talks' with Southampton manager after giving up hope of luring Carlo Ancelotti

Pochettino looks set to leave Saints after Sherwood was sacked at the end of the season

Tuesday 27 May 2014 12:11 BST

Mauricio Pochettino, Southampton’s manager, is poised to take over at Tottenham Hotspur with the London club now accepting that the Argentine is the best option to fill their vacant head coach role.

The Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, had been told before Saturday’s Champions League final that Carlo Ancelotti was not an option, whether Real Madrid won the game or not. Frank de Boer, the Ajax manager, remains the back-up candidate to Pochettino but Spurs went cold on him after he spoke publicly about their approach.

Taking over at Spurs will cap a remarkable 16 months in the Premier League for Pochettino, who took over at Southampton in January last year on a contract that expires at the end of next season. There is hope at Tottenham that the former Espanyol coach will be capable of working in tandem with a director of football, the position currently held by Franco Baldini.

Another factor in his favour is that he is regarded as a prime candidate to coax the best out of fellow Argentine Erik Lamela, the club’s £30m record signing from Roma last summer, who has endured a terrible first season. Pochettino is expected to bring his own staff with him. Both Tim Sherwood’s assistants Les Ferdinand and Chris Ramsey have not yet made a decision on their futures.

Who could replace Tim Sherwood as Tottenham manager?

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1/12Who could replace Tim Sherwood as Tottenham manager?

Who could replace Tim Sherwood as Tottenham manager?

Frank de Boer

Hugely respected former Ajax and Barcelona player Frank de Boer looks to have taken well to management having won the Eredivisie the last four years running. As respected as it is, Ajax has a tendency to be a stepping stone on to bigger things. So is Spurs big enough? The Dutchman has been strongly linked and in return he has suggested he would be keen.

Who could replace Tim Sherwood as Tottenham manager?

Mauricio Pochettino

When Southampton appointed Pochettino it came as a shock. Few knew much more about him than he once tripped Michael Owen in the box when England met Argentina at the 2002 World Cup. Since then, he's shown himself to be a more than adept manager in the Premier League, making the most of the youthful team he found at St Mary's and instilling an ambition in the club few realised they were capable of. Since the departure of executive chairman Nicolas Cortese, the man who brought Pochettino to the club, there have been question marks over his future.

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Who could replace Tim Sherwood as Tottenham manager?

Glenn Hoddle

Glenn Hoddle was a fans favourite at White Hart Lane and has previously managed the North London club. The former England manager has been out of work since leaving his role as Wolverhampton Wanderers boss in 2006 and has openly expressed his desire to manage Tottenham Hotspur once again. He wasn't shy of criticising Sherwood either.

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Who could replace Tim Sherwood as Tottenham manager?

Jurgen Klinsmann

A Tottenham legend, Jurgen Klinsmann lit up the Premier League during his spell at White Hart Lane. Many Spurs fans will have fond memories of the German genius during his time in North London and would love to see the current United States national team boss make a return to the Lane.

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Who could replace Tim Sherwood as Tottenham manager?

Massimiliano Allegri

Reports in Italy have suggested former AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri will be the next Tottenham manager. Tottenham denied those rumours at the time, but that was when they still had a manager. Allegri won Serie A with the Rossoneri in 2010/11,

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Who could replace Tim Sherwood as Tottenham manager?

Justin Edinburgh

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Justin Edinburgh has worked wonders with League Two Newport County during his two-and-a-bit-years with the South Wales club. He joined the Exiles in 2011 and went on to win the Conference Premier play-offs the season after. Could he be a surprise candidate for the White Hart Lane hot seat?

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Who could replace Tim Sherwood as Tottenham manager?

Jupp Heynckes

The veteran German manager, who was named Fifa coach of the year in January, has been out of work since leaving Bayern Munich in May. In his last season at the German giants he won the Bundesliga, German Cup and the Champions League. He is currently retired but could the opportunity to manage Tottenham Hotspur draw him out of his armchair?

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Who could replace Tim Sherwood as Tottenham manager?

Sean Dyche

After being unceremoniously sacked by Watford, Sean Dyche has reinvented himself at Championship side Burnley. Dubbed the 'Ginger Mourinho' by the Turf Moor crowd, Dyche is a manager whose stock is rising, with his Clarets side having been promoted to the Premier League for next season.

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Who could replace Tim Sherwood as Tottenham manager?

Diego Simeone

Diego Simeone has taken to management like a duck to water, although the British public may not be his biggest fans, after the Argentinian was responsible for getting David Beckham sent-off at the 1998 World Cup in France. His record in Spain since taking over Atletico Madrid has been incredibly impressive with his side in contention for the La Liga title as well as reaching the lChampions League final. Might be difficult for Spurs to convince him to switch.

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Who could replace Tim Sherwood as Tottenham manager?

Michael Laudrup

The Dane has been out of work since being sacked by Swansea City over e-mail in February. During his time in Wales he led the Swans to their first trophy in their 102-year history as well as getting them to play some of leagues most attractive football.

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Who could replace Tim Sherwood as Tottenham manager?

Eddie Howe

Eddie Howe's name being thrown into the mix for the Tottenham manager's job could come as a surprise to the fans, but he is a manager that has impressed this season in the Championship. After a successful period at Bournemouth, he left for Burnley, his time at Turf Moor wasn't the best, but since returning to the Cherries he has got them playing an attractive style of football and up to 12th in the Championship.

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Who could replace Tim Sherwood as Tottenham manager?

David Moyes

Before he was 'chosen' to manage Manchester United, Moyes was linked with Spurs. Having been sacked after less than 10 months in charge of Manchester United, White Hart Lane could provide a quick return to management. His record prior to his latest job is excellent - after all - United thought he was good enough to replace Sir Alex.

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Pochettino led Southampton to an eighth-placed finish last season, although he was beaten home and away by Sherwood, including the latter’s first league game in charge in December. While the Argentine has drawn praise for the way in which he has handled the young players at the club, there have been doubts over his dealings with some of the more senior professionals, including record signing Dani Osvaldo who was sent out on loan to Juventus in January.

Should Pochettino sign at Spurs, Sherwood would be one of the options to replace him at Southampton.

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