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While the introduction of the European Super League and its ramifications have dominated the back pages in the past 12 hours or so, Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the sacking of Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese manager failed to deliver the goods in north London and has been relieved of his duties nearly 18 months after his appointment.
Mourinho replaced the much-adored Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur after the Argentine was sacked for his failure to turn around a series of underwhelming results. He was appointed to steady the ship and break the club's trophy drought, but the Special One's tenure in north London never really lived up to the hype despite showing signs of promise.
Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspur journey ends with a bitter taste
The Lilywhites were slated for not having a footballing identity under Mourinho, as they were constantly bailed out by the individual brilliance of Son Heung-Min and Harry Kane.
The timing of his sacking comes as a massive surprise, with Tottenham Hotspur set to take on Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final later this week. Nevertheless, the three-time Premier League winner has been relieved of duties, with former midfielder Ryan Mason set to be in charge for the time being.
On that note, here are five managers Tottenham Hotspur could appoint to replace the Special One.
#5 Massimiliano Allegri
A champion manager who has won trophies aplenty, Max Allegri could emerge as an option for Tottenham Hotspur at the end of the season. The Italian has not returned to the touchline since leaving Juventus and could be tempted to do so if he's presented with a decent offer.
Allegri's philosophy, however, could prove to be a stumbling block for the Lilywhites. His teams aren't known for their eye-catching brand of football, so Daniel Lewy might be wary of appointing a manager of the same ilk as Mourinho.
Bayern Munich are set to part with Hansi Flick at the end of the season and could well make a move for Allegri, so Tottenham Hotspur do not have too much time to waste if they are keen on the Italian.
#4 Rafa Benitez
After leaving Dalian Professional in the Chinese Super League, Rafa Benitez could be tempted to return to the Premier League. The UEFA Champions League winner enjoyed his best stint in England with Liverpool, while he also managed Chelsea and Newcastle United in the years that followed.
Benitez brings with him a lot of experience, but his pragmatic approach could prove to be detrimental to his hopes of landing the job. Nevertheless, Tottenham Hotspur can do a lot worse than a manager who has won titles across Europe, as they look to move on from Mourinho.
Benitez has also been linked with a return to Newcastle United, with Steve Bruce's job reportedly hanging in the balance as things stand.
Also Read: 5 players who can replace Hector Bellerin at Arsenal
#3 Maurizio Sarri
Another former Premier League manager on the list, it could be argued that Maurizio Sarri was treated rather unfairly at Chelsea and Juventus. While he was sacked by the Blues after an impressive first season at Stamford Bridge, he suffered a similar fate at the Allianz Stadium, although his brand of football in Turin came under immense scrutiny.
Nevertheless, the Italian has shown that he is a tactical genius over the years and could be a fantastic option for Tottenham Hotspur to consider. Known for his possession-based brand of football, Sarri's philosophy has been compared to that of Pep Guardiola's.
Tottenham Hotspur may lose a handful of key players this summer, so it is important they appoint the right manager to steady the ship. Sarri is currently without a job, making him a realistic candidate to take over the reins after Mourinho.
#2 Scott Parker
Scott Parker is held in high regard by Tottenham Hotspur fans due to his exploits as a player. The Englishman was a consistent performer for the Lilywhites back in the day and could return to north London, this time as a manager.
Parker took over the reins at Fulham after Claudio Ranieri's sacking in 2019, with Fulham pretty much resigned to the drop at the time. The Cottagers eventually suffered relegation, but Parker put together a team that immediately secured promotion to the Premier League for the 2020-21 season.
While they could well get relegated again, the 40-year-old has impressed with his maturity and tactical awareness on the touchline. Fulham have done well since the turn of the year, and a lot of it is down to the Englishman's diligent work ethic and faith in his players.
If Tottenham Hotspur are looking to appoint a manager for the long term, Parker could be the perfect candidate for the job.
#1 Julian Nagelsmann
RB Leipzig's Julian Nagelsmann is one of the most sought-after managers in world football, with the German tactician tipped to replace Hansi Flick at the end of the season. However, he has also been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, with the Telegraph reporting earlier this year that he wouldn't be opposed to managing in England.
The former Hoffenheim manager is already one of the best tacticians in the world at the age of 33 and is all set to enjoy a fantastic future in the game. It goes without saying that Tottenham Hotspur would love to appoint him, but the Lilywhites will have to fend off interest from Bayern Munich in order to do so.
Nagelsmann revealed earlier this week that he is more than happy at RB Leipzig, but if one of the big boys come calling for him at the end of the season, he is likely to move on to greener pastures.
Also Read: 5 players who can replace Edinson Cavani at Manchester United
