Spurs: Capello, Mourinho, Mancini, Trapattoni...

By Gary Beaumont
March 31 2004

...Antic, Sven, O’Neill, Ranieri- Arghhhh Just who will be our next manager? Lets look at the facts (and perhaps a few assumptions added in for good measure)

Capello: Reports from the “reliable” BBC claim Capello is looking to manage in England. Now they claim both Spurs and Chelsea are in the running (which doesn’t come as any surprise does it?) but it is also known that Capello is very good friends with Ranieri, so much so, that Capello-the-Great may just say “thanks but no thanks Roman”.
Although saying that, if he does decide to go to Chelski then this won’t be the first time someone has succumbed to the Russian’s briefcase of Euros.

Sven: Well you can just never tell with old SGE can you? A VERY sly (well perhaps not sly, but something close to sly) fella indeed, infact don't be surprised if the recent goings on are merely a smokescreen. In my opinion it is too much of a coincidence that he signs a new contract with the FA immediately after yet more “secret” talks with Roman A’bich. Could go any number of ways.

Mourinho: This one is something of an unknown entity. Has stated he would like to manage in England and has admitted talks with Spurs in the past. Also it is claimed Diego is looking to buy a house in London and that he plans to play for a Portuguese manager, interesting eh???
Well not that interesting to be honest and personally I think he is bound for Spain in the summer (Barca).

O’Neill: Who knows where he will end up (or whether he will stay where he is) but all I know is that Liverpool would be his preferred destination if any.
However it has been claimed that he was previously offered the Spurs job and that Joe Lewis (Daniel Levy’s ex boss and billionaire) has close ties with Celtic, so maybe he could exert some boardroom pressure.

Ranieri: I doubt whether he knows what’s round the corner and has yet to receive any sort of backing from his management. He has quite a lot on his plate at the moment but I think Spurs will have their next manager in place by the time he departs Stamford Bridge.

Antic: Some very strong hints that he could be the next manager of Spurs. Namely resigning from his post at Celta just as the “next Spurs manager race” hots up. It is also claimed that he is a good friend of David Pleat, but hey what does that matter?
…Levy is the big wig at the Lane and surely he will do what is right for the club and the fans (Well I hope anyway)
My gut instinct says that it won’t be Antic; How could Levy appoint a manager who is currently struggling to get a decent side out of the relegation zone? - Especially when you consider that outside of the top 5 it is very average league indeed.

Mancini: Seems to change his opinion more often than the wind. One minute he would love to come to England, the next he wants to stay in Rome and then next he wants out again. He WILL move on, but just where will he go is anyone’s guess?

Hiddink: wishful thinking on my part. Would love him at the lane, but he has just signed a new contract (no not of the Sven type) with PSV so unfortunately this is surely a no-go.

Trapattoni: This is our “close but no cigar” signing …or is it???
Whether he is right for Spurs or not is another question but he certainly seems to be distancing himself from such claims at present.
Which leads me onto my personal theory of how this saga has unfolded.

Disclaimer: By the way this is mostly based on assumption so don’t believe a word of it….

I think Traps WAS Levy’s number target and I believe there WAS a gentlemen’s agreement between the two (That he would take over at Spurs after Euro 2004). However with reports circulating that he was destined for the Lane Traps may have had some pressure exerted onto him to continue at the Azzurri and not get involved in further speculation (after-all it was damaging Italy’s fine- If Sunshine is to be believed- chances of Euro 2004 glory).
Traps is another manager who has signed a new contract to re-inforce his desire to stay, but don't be fooled by this, it is my opinion that he WILL leave (by any number of means) if Italy fail at the Euro chumps.

So here are my thoughts on their chances:

Trapattoni- Worth a bet
Capello- Again worth a bet
Mancini- Outside chance
Ranieri- Outside chance
Mourinho- Outside chance
O‘Neill- Can’t see it
Antic- Can’t see it
Hiddink- Not a chance
SVGE: Not a chance

Not very informative I agree but I had to get on the bandwagon.

Levy it’s over to you!