Tottenham Hotspur have parted company with Portuguese manager Nuno Espirito Santo following Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat to Manchester United. Tottenham made the decision official on Monday. Antonio Conte is the main favorite to become Spurs’ new coach, with talks scheduled today in London.
47-year-old Nuno was appointed on 30 June and enjoyed a great start to life in North London, winning his first three games in the Premier League. The series, which included a 1-0 home win against reigning champions Manchester City on the opening day of the season, helped Nuno in the Manager of the Month award for August.
Tottenham went on to lose five times in the Premier League under the Portuguese manager, winning just two of their outings since September. Spurs allowed three goals past them in the games against North London rivals Arsenal, as well as Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Manchester United. There has been increased criticism over Nuno’s tactics from the Tottenham supporters, with part of the players also allegedly unhappy with his methods.
Nuno is the first manager to win the first three games of a Premier League season to be sacked in the same campaign since Roberto Di Matteo was let go by Chelsea in 2012/13.
Sky in Italy report Antonio Conte, who turned down Tottenham in the summer, will travel to London today for emergency talks over a potential appointment. Spurs look to appoint a fourth permanent manager in the last three years. Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho and Nuno have all been sacked in the space of just 24 months.
Club statement: ‘A further coaching update will follow’
Through a message posted on the club’s website, as well as its social platforms, Tottenham confirmed Nuno’s departure.
“The Club can today announce that Nuno EspÃrito Santo and his coaching staff Ian Cathro, Rui Barbosa and Antonio Dias have been relieved of their duties,” the statement reads.
Managing Director of Football Fabio Paratici said: “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,” the statement added, before noting that “a further coaching update will follow in due course”.
The bookies have Conte at +200 to replace Nuno as Tottenham Hotspur manager, with Graham Potter and Paulo Fonseca tied at +500. Ryan Mason, who was a caretaker boss following Jose Mourinho’s sacking in April, now stands at +600 to become the team’s next permanent boss.
