Ex-England player surprised manager wasn’t linked with Spurs and Everton jobs

Ex-England international David Platt claimed on The Old Spice Boys podcast he finds it ‘incredible’ that Tottenham Hotspur or Everton did not try and appoint Italy manager Roberto Mancini this summer.

Tottenham, after a long search that lasted more than two months, appointed Nuno Espirito Santo as their new manager. Meanwhile, Everton appointed former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez after parting ways with Carlo Ancelotti.

Mancini’s reputation has never been higher. The ex-Man City manager is fresh off guiding Italy to a Euro 2020 win after they beat England on penalties in the final.

Before this, he was famed for his Premier League title win in 2012 after Sergio Aguero’s iconic last-minute goal against Queens Park Rangers.

The Italian manager is under contract with Italy until 2026, which would keep him in charge for the next three major tournaments.

Despite this long-term commitment, Platt still revealed his shock that Tottenham and Everton, two Premier League clubs that were without a manager this summer, did not try and appoint Mancini.

He said: “It never surprised me that Robbie created a winning team with Italy because that’s what he has done all through his career.

“But I am absolutely amazed that he has not been linked with clubs over the last five or six years in England when you look at his CV and what he has done.

“The job at Spurs was going and there was Everton as well, who managed to persuade another Italian, Carlo Ancelotti, to go there before Rafa Benitez arrived.

“I find it incredible that he has not been linked with jobs like these.”

SpursWeb Opinion 

To be honest, if Mancini was available – I think both would have tried to appoint him fresh off winning the Euros. But with his new long-term deal, it felt impossible to prize a manager away that has just won a major trophy with his country.

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