Antonio Conte’s time at Tottenham Hotspur is is expected to end later this week.
It confirmed another season without a trophy for the club and with Conte admitting that the club “could fire him”.
Here are some of the options that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy could consider.
The quick fix: Thomas Tuchel
Levy has a habit of appointing former Chelsea managers in a bid to end his club’s 15-year drought. Tuchel would fit the same mold as Jose Mourinho and Conte, with Levy prioritizing silverware from a previously proven manager. How did that end?
The choice of the fans: Mauricio Pochettino
There’s a sense of unfinished business with Pochettino and Tottenham and the sense of optimism surrounding his possible return is something Levy might go along with. The Argentine was sacked just four months after taking the club to their first Champions League final, and would be a romantic choice to lead the rebuild that was stripped from him. But he would need to completely revamp a team that is arguably worse than the one he left behind four seasons ago.
The long-term project: Roberto De Zerbi
Taking a manager from an over-achieving Premier League rival has gone both ways for Tottenham, with Pochettino and Nuno Espírito Santo’s short tenure producing very different results. Roberto De Zerbi would be more Poch than Nuno, but should Levy see Chelsea as a test case for Brighton managers making the jump to major success?
The proven track record: Brendan Rodgers
Leicester may be in a slump, but under Rodgers they have won more trophies than Tottenham Hotspur in the last 15 years. Rodgers has experience rebuilding struggling teams and a title challenge with Liverpool, a treble with Celtic and an FA Cup with Leicester have shown he is quite good at turning things around with limited resources.
The former terrace favorite: Michael Carrick
Clubs have gone down the road of having a former player at the helm, with Frank Lampard, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mikel Arteta showing various signs of success.
Michael Carrick has shown his mettle in dragging Middlesbrough back into the promotion picture in the Championship in such a short space of time. Lampard made the jump from Derby to Chelsea, but would it be too early to give Carrick such a big job so early in his career?
Ange Postecoglou – the Scottish choice
Or maybe the Australian? Postecoglou has taken Celtic back to the pinnacle of Scottish football in just over 18 months after being dethroned by Rangers and is already being touted for greater things.
The Greek-born Australian is well respected in inner coaching circles and his record will not go unnoticed, but his appointment would be a risk given the huge step up the Premier League would bring him.
Luis Enrique – the continental approach
The appointment of a manager who has yet to manage in the Premier League would be a sign of a change of course under Levy, but Enrique has shown he is a man willing to make big decisions.
The club has not had a manager without previous Premier League experience since Juande Ramos in 2008, but Enrique’s time with Barcelona and the Spanish national team has proven he has what it takes to be successful in England.