Frank de Boer claims Tottenham Hotspur have registered an interest in his services, and he is prepared to listen to what they may have to offer.
In what has ultimately been another disappointing season at White Hart Lane, Andre Villas-Boas was dismissed in December following a string of damaging defeats. The final straw for the Portuguese came with the 5-0 home loss to Liverpool, after previously losing 6-0 at Manchester City and 3-0 when West Ham United paid a visit in October.
Tim Sherwood was promoted from his role as youth team coach to take charge of the first team, and it was something of a surprise when he was handed an 18-month contract. However, it was always expected that the only way the 45-year-old would complete such a length of time would be if he managed to guide Spurs to a top-four finish.
This is a target which has again proven beyond them, as they sit seven points behind rivals Arsenal with just two matches left to play. With qualification for the UEFA Champions League off the agenda, Sherwood has had to contend with much speculation over his future in recent weeks, and it seems certain he will be relieved of his duties.
Louis van Gaal, who will become a free agent after the World Cup Finals, was the favourite to become the new Tottenham boss, but it now seems that the Holland coach is destined for Manchester United following the dismissal of David Moyes. This has left the door open to another Dutchman, with de Boer claiming an approach has been made.
In an interview with national broadcaster NOS on Tuesday, the Ajax coach claimed he had been informed of the interest from the London club by Marc Overmars, the football director of his current employers. “I’m going to listen and talk,” he said. “Then I’ll make my feelings known. I want to add something to a club, so that people can say that they see the hand of Frank de Boer. Liverpool are a good example of this with Brendan Rodgers.”
The 43-year-old has been in charge of the Amsterdam giants since succeeding Martin Jol in December 2010, and last weekend clinched a fourth successive Eredivisie title. He was also assistant coach to the Dutch national side at the 2010 World Cup Finals, when Bert van Marwijk’s side lost 1-0 to the all-conquering Spaniards in the final.
Reports of Tottenham’s approach for de Boer, who won 112 international caps as a player, is unlikely to be well received by Sherwood. Although the former Blackburn Rovers captain is likely to accept he will not be in charge next season, last week he spoke of his frustration at the widespread speculation linking a host of potential candidates to his job.
“Every press conference I do it’s ‘this manager’s coming in…van Gaal…then [Glenn] Hoddle, this one and that one,’” he said. “Some of these managers are actually touting themselves for my job. I don’t think that’s right. It’s something that doesn’t sit well with me. If anyone ever asks me about another job I just tell them that they’ve got another manager. Until they haven’t got a manager and until I haven’t got a job, say nothing.”
