Tottenham boss Antonio Conte leaves after mutual agreement

Antonio Conte has left Tottenham Hotspur by mutual consent after 16 months in cost, the club announced Sunday.

Spurs are fourth within the Premier League however won’t finish their 15-year watch for a trophy this season after exiting all cup competitions in current weeks as relations between Conte and the membership deteriorated in any respect ranges.

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Conte’s assistant, Cristian Stellini, has been named performing head coach for the remainder of the season with Ryan Mason chosen as Stellini’s assistant.

Chairman Daniel Levy mentioned in a press release Sunday night: “We have 10 Premier League games remaining and we have a fight on our hands for a Champions League place.

“We all want to drag collectively. Everyone has to step up to make sure the best potential end for our membership and wonderful, loyal supporters.”

Sources have told ESPN that Conte had grown frustrated at what he perceived was a difference in strategy with the club reluctant to commit to the radical overhaul of the team he believed was necessary.

This concern had been expressed privately on multiple occasions, but Conte could not hide his anger at the players after they allowed a 3-1 lead to slip at Southampton, conceding twice in the final 15 minutes to draw the game 3-3 just prior to the international break.

In a remarkable postmatch news conference, Conte launched a stinging attack on the players and the club’s owners, ENIC.

“Tottenham’s story is that this: 20 years there may be this proprietor and so they by no means gained one thing. Why?” Conte said. “The fault is just for the membership, or for each supervisor that stays right here? I’ve seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench. You threat to disrupt the determine of the supervisor and to guard the opposite scenario in each second.

“Until now I try to hide the situation, but not now because, I repeat, I don’t want to see what I have seen today because this is unacceptable and also unacceptable for the fans.”

He continued: “We are 11 players that go into the pitch. I see selfish players, I see players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart.

“In my expertise, I can inform you that if you wish to be aggressive, if you wish to struggle, you must enhance this side. And this side, I can inform you, on this second is de facto, actually low. And I see solely 11 gamers that play for themselves.

“They are used to it. They don’t play for something important here. They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress.”

Spurs will now search for their ninth supervisor since successful their final trophy, the 2008 League Cup in opposition to Chelsea.

Sources informed ESPN that Tottenham held an curiosity in former Chelsea supervisor Thomas Tuchel, who was open to managing within the Premier League after being sacked by the Blues in September, however Bayern Munich swooped to convey the German to the Allianz Arena earlier than any significant talks might happen.

In doing so, Bayern sacked Julian Nagelsmann, who had beforehand been on Spurs’ quick listing previous to Conte’s arrival. Nagelsmann is more likely to entice curiosity from a number of golf equipment this summer season, with Spurs anticipated to watch his scenario.

Sources have additionally informed ESPN that Brighton & Hove Albion coach Roberto De Zerbi is a candidate for the place at Spurs, as is Brentford’s Thomas Frank.

Former Tottenham supervisor Mauricio Pochettino is considered open to the concept of a return to the membership, however it’s unclear whether or not Levy would rehire the supervisor he sacked in 2019.

Asked by the Evening Standard in December 2019 whether or not Pochettino might return to the membership sooner or later, Levy mentioned: “Why not? I don’t close the door on anything.”

Conte secured Champions League qualification on the ultimate day of final season, however was unable to enhance the membership’s fortunes this time period regardless of a summer season web spend in extra of £100 million ($122 million).

Conte confronted over a month out after present process surgical procedure to have his gallbladder eliminated in February. He briefly returned to supervise Spurs’ defeats to Milan and Leicester City earlier than heading again to Italy to give attention to his restoration.

In his absence, assistant boss Stellini led the facet to vital wins over Manchester City and Chelsea and helped earn Conte a nomination for Premier League supervisor of the month for February.

Tottenham face relegation-threatened Everton within the Premier League on April 5. Spurs are at the moment two factors away from fifth-placed Newcastle United, who’ve two video games in hand.