Former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte edges closer to landing a new role as a coach for Tottenham Hotspurs following the sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo on Monday.
Nuno’s fate was sealed by an alarming drop in form just four months after appointing him.
The 47-year-old manager was only appointed as Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor in June. However, it was clear since day one that he was not the club’s top pick to manage the first team.
Spurs took a gamble as the Premier League season kicked off but his role was short-lived. Conte is reported to be in London currently and holding talks with Tottenham.
Insiders say he should be signing an 18-month contract soon ahead of the club’s clash with Vitesse Tuesday.
Notably, Conte – who also managed Serie A club Inter Milan but left – had turned down the same offer in pre-season by Tottenham. He defended himself then saying that the club had no ambition.
Antonio Conte. [Eurosport]
Antonio Conte Leaving Inter Milan
It was surprising that he opted to leave Inter Milan after leading the club to win the Serie A title.
He has been without a job since then and he maintained that he would only accept a job that is convincing enough.
“The market, the results achieved, the work done over the years make the figures,” he told La Gazzetta Dello Sport.
“But beyond this, let me say that if my problem or my obsession was money, in the past I would have stayed where I was.
“I would have accepted compromises and perhaps obtained new contracts, which can act as a golden umbrella. But instead, I look at the projects and I’m willing to stay at home if they don’t convince me.
“It is a question of vision, seriousness, intellectual honesty and principles from which I do not deviate.”
Troubled Nuno
Nuno got off to a decent enough start in north London, winning each of Spurs’ opening three Premier League games. It included an opener against Manchester City.
But a disheartening 3-0 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday 30, October has followed a number of desperately poor recent displays.
These are the ones that have seen the club slip to convincing defeats to Crystal Palace, Chelsea, and Arsenal. As well as narrow losses to West Ham and Vitesse – the latter in the Europa Conference League a couple of weeks ago.
Why Tottenham Sacked Nuno
Former Tottenham coach Nuno Espirito. Photo/ The Straits Times
The table turned quickly and Spurs decided to remove Nuno from his position early enough. This is to ensure Spurs remain in the top ten Premier League chart.
The Club can today announce that Nuno Espírito Santo and his coaching staff Ian Cathro, Rui Barbosa and Antonio Dias have been relieved of their duties,” the statement seen by SportsLeo read.
Fabio Paratici, Managing Director, Football, added: “I know how much Nuno and his coaching staff wanted to succeed and I regret that we have had to take this decision.
“Nuno is a true gentleman and will always be welcome here. We should like to thank him and his coaching staff and wish them well for the future.”
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