Tottenham have suffered a blow in their pursuit of a highly-rated manager.
Tottenham Hotspur have begun the process of identifying their next permanent manager after getting rid of Thomas Frank.
Thomas Frank was dismissed the next day after his team lost 2-1 at home to Newcastle United on Tuesday evening. The result left Spurs languishing 16th in the table, five points clear of the drop zone. Winless in eight Premier League matches, the Lilywhites require a huge boost ahead of the season’s final months to stay up.
Several names have been linked to the vacant managerial post in N17. After mutually terminating his contract at Marseille, Roberto de Zerbi wants to get to work immediately and is ready to replace Frank at the helm at Spurs. Mauricio Pochettino appears to be open to a return, although he is currently not available due to his commitments with the USMNT.
Andoni Iraola decides on his future amid Tottenham links
Another manager on Tottenham’s shortlist is Andoni Iraola.
Iraola has cultivated a strong reputation at Bournemouth since his arrival from Rayo Vallecano in June 2023. Under his watch, the Cherries finished 12th in the 2023/24 season and ninth last year with a club record top-flight points tally of 56. However, the Spaniard’s current contract expires at the end of the season to raise doubt over his long-term position at the club.
But, according to an exclusive report from GIVEMESPORT, Iraola is not interested in the Tottenham job up for grabs. He would prefer to stay at Bournemouth, rather than move to north London midway through the season.
While the 43-year-old recognises Tottenham as a ‘big club’, he is ambitious and has set his sights on bigger things- a top team on the rise in Europe or an opportunity to move back to Athletic Bilbao, where he spent 12 years as a player.
After sacking Frank, Tottenham need someone who will stick to the club’s DNA, entertain the fans with rip-roaring, pressing and attacking football and get them back to challenging for trophies. Although Iraola is still very young and hasn’t won anything in his managerial career thus far, there is a lot to admire about his personality, work ethic, style of play and energy. He has improved Bournemouth with his ideas and tactical philosophy, making them one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the Premier League.
That said, the Spanish tactician’s refusal to join Tottenham is a big blow, one that speaks volumes about the current state of the club.