Tim Sherwood has been appointed as manager of Tottenham Hotspur, with Daniel Levy handing the 44-year-old a contract until next season.
Following a 5-0 home defeat to Liverpool earlier this month, Spurs lost patience with Andre Villas-Boas, showing the Portuguese the door after a little over one season in charge. This was their third heavy defeat of the campaign to date, following a 3-0 loss to West Ham United, also at home, and the 6-0 hammering at Manchester City.
A number of names had been linked with the post, including club legend Glenn Hoddle, who had revealed he would be happy to take the reins for the rest of the season. It is understood that Ajax coach Frank de Boer was tentatively approached, whilst Fabio Capello, Guus Hiddink, Louis van Gaal and Carlos Queiroz had also been mentioned.
However, chairman Levy has pulled off something of a surprise by showing faith in the inexperienced Sherwood. The former Tottenham midfielder, who captained Blackburn Rovers to the Premier League title in 1995, has been in caretaker charge since AVB was dismissed, and although he lost his first game against West Ham in the League Cup, he bounced back to record a 3-2 win at Southampton on Sunday afternoon.
In a statement shortly after the new was announced on Monday night, Levy said: “We were extremely reluctant to make a change mid-season, but felt we had to do so in the club’s best interests. We have a great squad and we owe them a head coach who will bring out the best in them and allow them to flourish and enjoy a strong finish to the season. We are in the fortunate position of having a talented coach in Tim Sherwood. We believe Tim has both the knowledge and the drive to take the squad forward.”
Sherwood, whose previous role at the club was that of technical co-ordinator and coach of the Under-21 side, will be given the official title of head coach. It is understood he has stipulated that he wants a full say in the signing of new players, something which was overseen by technical director Franco Baldini during the summer.
The new man at the helm will be assisted by Les Ferdinand and Chris Ramsey, whilst Steffen Freund will also be involved. Their first challenge comes on Boxing Day, when West Bromwich Albion, who have also recently sacked their manager, visit White Hart Lane. Stoke City are next up on 29 December, before they begin 2014 with a trip to Old Trafford to take on the reigning Premier League champions Manchester United.
