Tim Sherwood has revealed Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy wanted him to stay at Spurs – despite axing him last summer.
The Aston Villa boss returns to White Hart Lane on Saturday for the first time since leaving as head coach in May 2014.
He was replaced by Mauricio Pochettino just five months after succeeding Andre Villas Boas as Spurs activated a break clause in his contract.
But Sherwood admitted chairman Daniel Levy wanted to find a new role for him at the club.
“Daniel knew me for a lot of years. It wasn’t as if I fell off my chair and said ‘you’re joking’. I knew it was coming,” he said.
“I was disappointed I was leaving the football club, yes, but Daniel didn’t want the divorce, he wanted me to stay in some kind of capacity. But I’m a manager now.
“He didn’t say what job. I was looking at eyeing up the broom cupboards and all that. It’s been great for me. It’s turned out brilliantly and I thank Daniel Levy for that.”
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Sherwood made 118 appearances during four years as a player for Spurs and was technical director before being promoted to head coach.
He replaced Paul Lambert at Villa in February and his side are three points above the Barclays Premier League relegation zone following Tuesday’s 3-3 draw with QPR.
And he admitted his family and friends want Villa to win on Saturday to aid their survival fight, despite being Spurs fans.
He said: “To be honest I’m overwhelmed sometimes by the well-wishes I get. A lot of them come inside that football club and my friends also. Some of my best friends and family are Tottenham fans and they want me to win this weekend which means a lot.”
Sherwood has been animated at Villa Park, sprinting down the touchline to celebrate goals, and conceded it may happen again against his former club.
He added: “It just happens. I don’t plan anything. You need to celebrate when (the ref) blows that final whistle because you can end up looking silly especially at a place like Tottenham. They can score at any time, you know.
“They’ve got threats to do that but they know that we have as well.”
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