Spurs' Managerial Merry-Go-Round: From Pochettino's Dream Return to Maresca's Autonomy

Thomas Frank has finally been shown the door at Tottenham, and frankly, it's a case of too little, too late. The Lilywhites find themselves languishing in 16th place, just five points clear of the relegation zone with 13 matches still to play. They've been reduced to taking solace in Manchester United's stoppage-time leveller against West Ham. That's how far things have fallen.

Now comes the mad scramble to find someone—anyone—willing to take the poisoned chalice until the summer arrives. Spurs are reportedly weighing several contingency options, though the likes of Robbie Keane (committed to Ferencvaros) and Chris Hughton (who deserves far better) aren't exactly realistic targets.

With just 12 days before what promises to be a thoroughly miserable home fixture against Arsenal on February 22, let's run through the candidates who might emerge from the woodwork.

The Romantic Choice: Mauricio Pochettino

Spurs fans haven't stopped singing his name since he departed. The Argentine remains a folk hero in north London, and despite the minor inconvenience of managing the USMNT through a World Cup at home, the supporters have made their feelings abundantly clear. Frank himself acknowledged Pochettino as a "true legend" moments before the crowd's affection became audible during a Newcastle defeat that confirmed the club's genuine relegation peril.

Back in 2020, six months after his sacking, Pochettino spoke of his ambition to return, describing it as his "dream" to "finish the work that we didn't finish." He expressed his desire to "conspire with the universe" and manage Spurs again before his career ended, hoping to "win one title" with the club. The feeling remains mutual. A man who actually seemed to enjoy his time in charge would almost certainly set aside international football if the call came.

The Emergency Measure: Ryan Mason

Mason has already done the caretaker gig twice, stabilising the ship after Jose Mourinho's exit in 2021 and again following Antonio Conte's departure in 2023. He inherited teams that had fallen out of Champions League contention, finishing 7th and 5th respectively—hardly the same as fighting genuine relegation.

The 53-year-old is a devoted Pochettino disciple, and the feeling is reciprocated. Pochettino has spoken glowingly of Mason's understanding of their tactical philosophy and his ability to translate coaching principles onto the pitch. But can he handle a real scrap with Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani in place of Kane, Bale and Son? Probably not.

The Default Succession: John Heitinga

Frank's preferred successor, Heitinga arrived as assistant on January 15 and has overseen three league defeats and two draws since then, though Champions League clean sheets against Borussia Dortmund and Frankfurt offer some crumbs of comfort. He lasted barely five months at Ajax earlier this season and was overlooked after an interim spell there in 2023 ended with a third-place finish and a Dutch Cup final loss. His appointment has a distinctly Stellini-esque feel to it—the sense that nothing much has changed.

The Veteran Caretaker: David Pleat

The man has form. Pleat has done the caretaker job three times before, once for an absurdly lengthy stint before announcing a permanent successor who would take over after international duties. It worked with Jacques Santini and could theoretically work again. He's 81, hasn't worked since 2024, and is 20 games away from 1,000 managerial appearances—potentially reaching that milestone in a Champions League final if the absurdity truly aligns.

The Forgotten Return: Ange Postecoglou

His third season never arrived, but a compressed version could be hastily dusted off. Remarkably, Postecoglou was sacked historically quickly from his first job after Spurs, remains unemployed, yet somehow emerged from their split as the winner. Would he genuinely return for another tilt? He'd probably be blamed for all the injuries and tactical incoherence that Frank escaped accountability for, but at least it would be entertaining.

The Populist Options: Redknapp and Sherwood

Harry Redknapp would arrive, charm the players, tell a wildly inaccurate story about Benjani Mwaruwari, burn the tactics boards and vanish once the transfer window slammed shut. Tim Sherwood would be the budget version of that budget version—though his gilet-wearing assistant could certainly bring some colour to proceedings.

The Unlikely Candidates

Gareth Southgate won't be returning to management. The Euro 2024 final was his perfect ending, and he's found his true home on LinkedIn. Mark van Bommel, the Dutchman enjoying his time away from PSV, Wolfsburg and Royal Antwerp, would make about as much sense as a three-headed managerial arrangement between him, Willian and Leandro Damiao.

The Pragmatic Fixer: Sam Allardyce

Big Sam's 30-day Leeds spell cannot be his final Premier League chapter. He's managed nine top-flight clubs—an irritatingly imperfect tally that demands rounding out. He hasn't actually kept a side up since Crystal Palace nine years ago (Everton were never going down in 2018, while West Brom and Leeds both went down on his watch), but that's almost beside the point. When a Big Six club suddenly faces genuine relegation danger, the pragmatism of his seven-point survival blueprint becomes rather appealing, even if it's been a while since he properly worked his magic.

The Wildcard Options

Jurgen Klinsmann saved Jay Goppingen before, so why not? And then there's Enzo Maresca—an out-of-work former Chelsea manager with trophy-winning credentials, a hunger for complete autonomy, and a track record of fighting anyone who questions his authority. Just what Spurs need right now, perhaps.