Across the years, Spurs have had many eloquent speakers who weren’t afraid to express their opinions in an intelligent matter, and that’s led many to believe, including me, that they could have a potential future in management.
Whether they’ve displayed managerial qualities through on-the-pitch leadership or level-headed press conferences, these are the 5 players from Spurs’ team in the last decade whom I feel can make a splash in the managerial world and, naturally, one day lead Tottenham Hotspur to glory.
Ben Davies
Ben Davies: starting with the most obvious selection in this entire list, every manager Ben Davies has had has been nothing but complimentary towards the Welshman, as his exemplary behaviour on and off the pitch has led Spurs and Welsh fans to believe that he’s got the required temperament and level-headedness to become a future manager.
The Cymru vice-captain has slowly earned more plaudits as his consistent performances in training and on the pitch are finally changing people’s perceptions as he looks to leave a respectable, top-level professional legacy at both Wales and Spurs.
I can personally see Davies at the very least managing Wales one day, whether he’ll be good enough for the Spurs job remains to be seen; however, if Ryan Mason (who shows the makings of an excellent coach) can be given an opportunity, who’s to say a cult hero like Ben Davies wouldn’t be given the same chance in a few years?
Hugo Lloris
Hugo Lloris: The former captain of France, has developed a strong reputation for his calming leadership throughout his esteemed career, despite a sour ending for Spurs and a disappointing finish to his career with the French national team, coming so close to the ultimate prize once again.
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Lloris, from an early age, assumed great responsibility during his time at Nice, with dressing room footage emerging of Hugo’s strong leadership that is often severely overlooked when discussions take place about his leadership. A different type of leader to your typing motivational captain, however, sometimes we see that those approaches can benefit a dressing room a lot as someone like Carlo Ancelotti isn’t animated on the touchline when you compare him to someone like Antonio Conte.
I can see Lloris being a great tactician after spending many years playing for countless great managers and setups, helping his national team to a World Cup and Spurs to multiple second-place finishes in almost all cups.
Lloris, for me, is the surest thing out of all the potential managers on this list, and I can easily see him managing a top European club like Atletico Madrid or Inter Milan, and hopefully one day the former Spurs captain with over 400 appearances can make a grand return to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium to help them over the line, one and for all.
Jan Vertonghen
Jan Vertonghen: Vertongthen, despite his calm and collected nature, strikes me as the type of manager who could be very animated on the touchline, with a presence that could be akin to Thomas Tuchels.
Captaining Belgium 13 times, Vertonghen has been a consistent fan favourite his entire career and has been part of some great sides who both almost achieved great things.
I can certainly see Jan becoming a top European manager, maybe starting at the likes of Ajax and eventually Bayern Munich, and hopefully one day returning to Tottenham Hotspur.
Eric Dier
Eric Dier: My favourite pick on this list is Eric Dier, as it may not seem obvious at first, but the more you delve into him as a person, the more it seems to fit.
Growing up in Portugal and at the Sporting Lisbon academy, Eric has been integrated deeply into the tactics of European football from a young age, far removed from the coaching youth setups in English culture despite his stint at Everton as a child.
The Englishman, who has played over 350 times for Spurs and won 49 caps for England, has been trusted thoroughly by some elite managers, including Mauricio Pochettino, Antonio Conte, and Jose Mourinho.
He’s also a key figure in the dressing room, as he is often praised for his vocality and leadership on the pitch, using his linguistic versatility to the greatest effect—yes, he speaks multiple languages too.
He’ll often get judged on his intelligence due to his tough looks; however, he’s a well-spoken and well-educated man who’s demonstrated managerial qualities throughout his career, but especially his linguistic skills stand out the most.
I can see him doing very well in German football management, especially as he’s starting to settle into Munich and getting to grips with the game and culture.
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