Mauricio Pochettino has reopened the door to a potential Tottenham return, but there is a Roberto De Zerbi-shaped hurdle in his way this summer.
Tottenham Hotspur have hired three different managers this season as they fight to avoid the drop to the Championship.
The Thomas Frank project lasted just eight months before the plug was pulled on the Dane, who struggled to deliver results on the pitch and played a brand of football that was far from the Tottenham way.
Following his departure, in came Igor Tudor, who lasted just 44 days in the Spurs dugout and had a disappointingly low 0% win rate in the Premier League and, with Tottenham fighting for survival, there was no option other than for the club to part ways with him.
Tottenham now have what has been described as their first-choice option in the dugout in Roberto De Zerbi. The former Brighton man has yet to put a foot wrong as he continues Spurs’ fight to avoid the drop to the Championship.
Mauricio Pochettino opens up on a potential Tottenham return
A lot was made about De Zerbi’s appointment, with talks around his record at previous clubs, where he rarely stays for more than two seasons.
However, with Spurs he has made a long-term commitment, signing a five-year deal – one that should keep him in the dugout until 2031.
The North London side, however, was not short of alternative options before eventually landing the Italian, with the likes of Sean Dyche and even former manager Mauricio Pochettino heavily linked with the vacancy.
The Argentine was high on the list for many, though his current commitment to the United States national team ultimately ruled him out of contention during a World Cup year.
Despite his current role on the international stage, Pochettino has now opened up about the possibility of an eventual return to the club where he previously enjoyed great success.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with FourFourTwo, the former manager addressed his enduring connection with the supporters and the values of the institution.
“Yes, why not [go back]? If the right conditions are there, of course. Tottenham feels like home to us. We identify with the club’s idiosyncrasies, values and supporters.
“Right now it is about enjoying the World Cup,” he added. “After that, I have always said I came so close to winning the Premier League and Champions League, and want to try again. I would like to be part of a project with the ambition of winning both.”
Mauricio Pochettino could replace Roberto De Zerbi at Spurs if board relations falter
The decision of De Zerbi to sign a long-term contract suggests that Tottenham may not be in search of a new manager anytime soon, especially as the Italian remains committed to the project even if the club suffers relegation.
However, the former Brighton boss has not entirely ruled out the possibility of a future departure, recently sharing the specific circumstances that could force him to reconsider his position.
In a recent interview, De Zerbi explained that maintaining a strong relationship with the board is far more important to him than the league status of the club.
Explaining the necessity of a shared vision between the coaching staff and the hierarchy, he said: “The problem is not the league. The problem is to keep the relationship with the board and to have the same ideas in the project. Yes. Everyone on the same page.”
It is only if this internal alignment begins to fracture that a return to North London could realistically be on the cards for Mauricio Pochettino.