Franco Baldini has left his post as technical director at Tottenham Hotspur by mutual consent, it was revealed on Monday morning.
The 54-year-old was hired from Roma in 2013 to oversee the club’s recruitment of players, and he brought in a total of 14 during his two-year spell in London. Baldini was responsible for the £100million+ drive following the departure of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid, yet of those who arrived in the wake of the Welshman’s departure, only three remain part of the first team squad.
Seven high-profile signings were made that summer, as the Italian instigated transfers for Paulinho, Roberto Soldado, Etienne Capoue, Vlad Chiriches, Nacer Chadli, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela. It is the latter three who are still plying their trade at White Hart Lane, and all were involved in the 4-1 win against then leaders Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday.
But as the new arrivals struggled to adapt to life in England it was Andre Villas-Boas, who was then head coach, who paid the price when he was sacked in December 2013. Tim Sherwood, lasted until the end of the season, when Mauricio Pochettino was appointed. The Argentine coach has since made Paul Mitchell, who he worked with at Southampton, as head of recruitment.
This placed further doubts over the future of Baldini, and it was confirmed on Monday that he has left by mutual consent. As well as the seven mentioned above, the Italian also oversaw the arrivals of current squad members Ben Davies, Michel Vorm, Eric Dier, Federico Fazio and Dele Ali, as well as DeAndre Yedlin who is on loan, and Benjamin Stambouli, now of Paris St Germain.
