Born in the south east of Ireland, Simon put his life-long love of football to good use when he started a successful independent blog in 2010. That opened up an alternative route to a career in journalism, and having had work published across a number of sites and publications, Simon joined the staff at Spotlight Sports Group in 2018.
Tottenham Hotspur have announced the departure of manager Jose Mourinho, sacking the Portuguese manager just 18 months into spell in North London.
The announcement comes just hours after the Premier League club announced that it was part of hugely controversial plans to join a European Super League.
Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino at Spurs in November 2019 when the 58-year-old originally signed a deal to take the reins at the club until the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
In a statement, Spurs said: “The club can today announce that Jose Mourinho and his coaching staff Joao Sacramento, Nuno Santos, Carlos Lalin and Giovanni Cerra have been relieved of their duties.
“Ryan Mason will take first team training today and a further update will follow in due course.”
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said on the club’s official website: “Jose and his coaching staff have been with us through some of our most challenging times as a club.”
Mourinho’s departure comes with Spurs in seventh spot in the table, five points away from the Champions League qualification places.
The ex-Chelsea and Manchester United manager’s sacking also comes just days before Tottenham meet Manchester City in the final of the League Cup at Wembley.
Tottenham take on Southampton this week in their first fixture with Mourinho at the helm.
Tottenham Hotspur next manager odds
Julian Nagelsmann – 7/2
Already, highly-rated RB Leipzig boss has been touted as a possible replacement for Jose Mourinho. The 33-year-old – who has been with Die Roten Bullen since 2019 – is reportedly on the lookout for a new challenge, and a move to the Premier League would certainly fit the bill.
Nagelsmann is a boyhood Bayern Munich fan however, and with the hot-seat with the Bavarian giants rumoured to be up for grabs this summer, the celebrated tactician could choose to wait for the Bundesliga champions to show their hand.
Scott Parker – 5/1
Scott Parker shot quickly in from 16/1 to 5/1 odds following the news of Mourinho’s axing, indicating that many think Tottenham could throw their lot in with their former midfielder.
The Fulham manager spent two seasons as a player with Spurs between 2011 and 2013, and that affiliation and familiarity with the club’s culture could appeal to the decision-makers at Tottenham.
Parker could well be relegated with the Cottagers this season, though Fulham’s easy-on-the-eye football and numerous impressive performances have added to the 40-year-old’s swelling reputation as a coach.
Brendan Rodgers – 8/1
When Brendan Rodgers was appointed as Leicester manager in 2019 three years after the Foxes landed their miraculous Premier League title, City were every inch a mid-table outfit, though the former Celtic boss has transformed the club into genuine top-four contenders since.
Rodgers’ keen tactical nous and ability to coax performances out of rough diamonds has allowed Leicester to punch above their weight near the summit of the Premier League, and the exciting style of football the 48-year-old favours would endear him to the Tottenham Hotspur support.
Massimiliano Allegri – 14/1
Highly-decorated coach Massimiliano Allegri has been out of the game since leaving Juventus in 2019, but if Daniel Levy wants his new Tottenham to have a lengthy track record of success, the Italian certainly fits the profile.
Allegri’s record in his homeland is superb, and having led AC Milan to the Serie A title in 2011, the Livorno-born taskmaster went on to lift the Scudetto a further five times with Juventus. The Old Lady’s regression following Allegri’s departure two years ago highlights just how influential a figure he was.
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