Tottenham search for fourth manager in four years as Antonio Conte exits

Antonio Conte has left his role at Spurs after only 16 months in Charge | Photo Credit: Getty Images

FOOTBALL Tottenham search for fourth manager in four years as Antonio Conte exits

Shafic Kiyaga 08:32 - 27.03.2023

Conte's departure comes after a recent news conference where he called the Spurs players "selfish" and criticized the club's culture following their draw against Southampton.

Tottenham Hotspur have announced that Antonio Conte has left the club by mutual consent after 16 months as manager.

The Italian coach's assistant, Cristian Stellini, will take over as head coach for the remainder of the season, with former midfielder Ryan Mason as his deputy.

Conte's departure comes after a recent news conference where he called the Spurs players "selfish" and criticized the club's culture following their draw against Southampton.

Although Tottenham is currently in fourth place in the Premier League, they are out of all cup competitions.

Chairman Daniel Levy has urged everyone to pull together and secure the highest possible finish in the league.

"We have 10 Premier League games remaining and we have a fight on our hands for a Champions League place," Levy said.

"We all need to pull together. Everyone has to step up to ensure the highest possible finish for our club and amazing, loyal supporters."

This means Tottenham are now searching for their fourth permanent manager in as many years since the departure of Mauricio Pochettino in 2019.

Conte underwent gallbladder surgery in February, and his recovery was a major concern. He missed several games and returned briefly before missing another four games.

Three close friends of Conte's - Spurs fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone, Sinisa Mihajlovic, and Gianluca Vialli - have all died in recent months.

Conte, who has won league titles with former clubs Chelsea, Juventus, and Inter Milan, was appointed in November 2021 after Spurs sacked Nuno Espirito Santo.

The Italian coach struggled for consistency during his early tenure, but a six-game unbeaten run secured a top-four finish last season.

However, Tottenham's struggles have continued this season, with nine defeats and four draws in 28 league games.

Conte's last match in charge was a 3-2 draw against Southampton, which saw Tottenham throw away a 3-1 lead, in whose aftermath Conte launched a furious criticism of his players and the club, stating that the situation was unacceptable.

Tottenham have only won one trophy since the ownership group chaired by Levy took over the club in 2001 - the League Cup in 2008 - and have had 11 different managers.

Conte's exit takes the number of managerial departures this season to 11 - a new Premier League record.

The Premier League has witnessed a record number of managerial departures this season, with nine sackings and two departures - Conte and Graham Potter leaving Brighton for Chelsea.

The previous record was the 10 sackings in 2021-22. Only six top-flight managers have been in charge for more than three years, with the league average now standing at about two years.

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