Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham Hotspur after mutual consent

Antonio Conte has left Tottenham Hotspur by mutual consent after 16 months in charge. Spurs are currently fourth in the PL standings but will not end their 15 year trophy drought this season following exits from all cup competitions as relations between Conte and the club deteriorated at all levels in recent weeks. 

Conte’s assistant, Cristian Stellini, has been named the interim boss for the remainder of the season with Ryan Mason chosen as Stellini’s assistant. 

In a statement on Sunday evening Chairman Daniel Levy mentioned “We have 10 Premier League games remaining and we have a fight on our hands for a Champions League place.

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

As per sources Conte had grown frustrated at what he saw was a difference in strategy with the club reluctant to the notion of radical overhaul of the entire team he believed was necessary. 

This matter was brought into light on many occasions, but Conte could not keep a hold of his emotions at the players after they let go a 3-1 lead against Southampton, conceding twice in the last quarter to draw the game 3-3 just before the international break. 

In an extraordinary post match conference, Conte bashed his players and the club’s owners, ENIC. 

"Tottenham's story is this: 20 years there has been this owner and they never won anything. Why?" Conte said. "The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stays here? I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench. You risk disrupting the figure of the manager and to protect the other situation at every moment.

"Until now I try to hide the situation, but not now because, I repeat, I don't want to see what I have seen today because this is unacceptable and also unacceptable for the fans."

He continued: "We are 11 players that go into the pitch. I see selfish players, I see players that don't want to help each other and don't put their heart.

"In my experience, I can tell you that if you want to be competitive, if you want to fight, you have to improve this aspect. And this aspect, I can tell you, is really, really low. And I see only 11 players that play for themselves.

"They are used to it. They don't play for something important here. They don't want to play under pressure, they don't want to play under stress."

Spurs will now be on the hunt for their ninth manager since winning their last championship, the 2008 League Cup against Chelsea. 

According to sources, Tottenham had shown interest in former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, who was open to managing in the Premier League after being abruptly sacked by the Blues in September, but Bayern Munich swooped to rope in the German to the Allianz Arena before any significant talks could take place. 

In doing so, the German giants sacked  Julian Nagelsmann, who had formerly been on Spurs' short list prior to Conte’s arrival. Nagelsmann is highly likely to attract interest from numerous clubs this summer, with Spurs expected to assess his situation. 

Brighton & Hove Albion coach Robero De Zerbi and Brentford’s Thomas are among the other candidates for the vacant position at the White Hart Lane. 

Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is thought to be open to the idea of reuniting with the club, but it is uncertain whether Levy would once again join hands with the manager he sacked in 2019. 

When asked by the Evening Standard in December 2019 whether Pochettino could make a return to the club one day, Levy said  “Why not? I don't close the door on anything."

Conte secured Champions League qualification spot on the final day of last season, but failed to improve the club’s fortunes this term despite a summer net spend of £122 million.  

Conte was out for a month after undergoing a surgery to have his gallbladder removed in February. He briefly returned only to oversee Spurs’ consecutive defeats against Milan and Leicester City before heading back to Italy to focus on his recovery. 

Assistant coach Stellini led the side to important wins over Manchester and Chelsea in Conte’s absence. 

Tottenham take the field against relegation-threatened Everton on April 5 in the Premier League. Spurs are currently two points ahead of fifth placed Newcastle United, who have two games in hand.