Tottenham Hotspur’s managerial search looks to be heading towards an end, with former Roma boss Paulo Fonseca now the favorite to take over the vacant role. The tactician was recently fired by AS Roma and replaced with Jose Mourinho – who last coached Spurs.
According to a report by the Guardian, Spurs are in advanced negotiations with Paulo Fonseca to take over the vacant head coach role. Spurs have been without a permanent head coach since the departure of Jose Mourinho in mid-April. Former first-team player Ryan Mason presided over the senior team for the final stretch of the season but could not steer the side into a UEFA Europa League place.
Spurs’ long, drawn-out search for a new head coach finally seems to be concluding. The North London outfit was in talks with Antonio Conte’s representatives last week, but an agreement could not be reached with the ex-Chelsea boss.
Tottenham, however, did manage to appoint Conte’s former Juventus colleague, Fabio Paratici, as their new director of football. The Guardian understands that it was Paratici who recommended Fonseca to the Spurs hierarchy. The former Roma and Shakhtar Donetsk boss is expected to be handed a three-year deal.
Fonseca will take up the role vacated by his compatriot Mourinho in April in what can be classified as a dubious coincidence. Mourinho, in turn, was appointed as Fonseca’s successor at Roma, recently. The three-time Premier League winner’s return to Italy was confirmed just weeks after his departure from Spurs. Mourinho has had previous experience coaching in Italy, where he led Inter Milan to a historic treble in 2010. Fonseca, on the other hand, will experience the fast-paced action of the Premier League for the first time in his relatively young managerial career.
After three trophy-laden years in Ukraine, Fonseca arrived in Rome in 2019. His first season saw Roma finish in fifth place and thus secure qualification to the 2020/21 Europa League group stage. His second season was less successful, at least domestically, where Roma stumbled to a seventh-place finish. The Giallorossi did shine in Europe but were eliminated by Manchester United in the semi-finals.
