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The managerial merry-go-round is in full effect across Europe — Chelsea get to sit this one out, for once! — and old friends Tottenham Hotspur are one of the teams looking for a new head coach.
Spurs, who helped Chelsea finish in fourth place on the final day of this season’s Premier League, had sacked old friend José Mourinho a few weeks prior. Ryan Mason had taken over on an interim basis, semi-successfully, but now they need someone on a non-interim basis.
For a hot minute it looked like they might get Mauricio Pochettino back from PSG, but momentum seems to be building (and building quickly) behind the idea of convincing our old friend Antonio Conte to take on Spurs as his next (and biggest) reclamation project.
The Telegraph’s Matt Law, Transfer Oracle Fabrizio Romano, and the Athletic as well, just to name a few, are all reporting that Chelsea’s last Premier League-winning manager is the favourite, and talks are ongoing.
Antonio Conte emerges as the clear front runner for the Tottenham job. As reported by @TeleFootball last week, Conte is likely to be joined by Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici if a deal can be agreed #thfc https://t.co/IhP4W8pG8Q
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) June 2, 2021
Conte had been briefly linked the other week already, in the wake of his resignation at Inter Milan, but matching his relentless ambition with someone like Spurs chairman Daniel Levy seemed an unlikely combination.
But you never know in football, and as Spurs approach nearly 5000 days without a trophy, they certainly could use a bit of a winning mentality. They had tried with José Mourinho, but his methods have deprecated; Conte is fresh off of the Scudetto back in Italy.
Days since a :
— Days Since A Trophy (@_SpursTrophies) May 30, 2021
Chelsea - 1️⃣
Leicester City - 1️⃣5️⃣
Manchester City - 1️⃣9️⃣
Arsenal - 3️⃣0️⃣1️⃣
Liverpool - 3️⃣3️⃣8️⃣
Manchester Utd - 1️⃣4️⃣6️⃣6️⃣@SpursOfficial - 4️⃣8️⃣4️⃣4️⃣#Spursy
Antonio Conte is an amazing manager who has won his domestic league in five of his last seven club seasons (3-in-3 with Juve, 1-in-2 with Chelsea, 1-in-2 with Inter). All clubs interested in winning should be interested in his services as he breeds a winning mentality, a hard-working attitude, and plenty of passion. A blazing inferno, if you will.
He also has a strong history of not getting along with his superiors, so that part should be fun to watch. The other part, especially if Spurs can hang on to Harry Kane, could be a bit scary and annoying, so hopefully this never comes true.
Tottenham have contacted Antonio Conte as candidate for Spurs job - not done but talks ongoing about potential project, contract and salary. ⚪️ #Spurs #THFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 2, 2021
Conte is one of the options in #THFC list - as PSG are still on the same position about Pochettino. @SkySport @aalciato