Pochettino appointed new Tottenham manager

Posted Wednesday, May 28, 2014 by Talksport.co.uk

Tottenham have appointed Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach.

talkSPORT brought you news back in March that Spurs were targeting the Southampton manager as Tim Sherwood neared closer to an exit.

And, having sacked Sherwood at the end of the Premier League season, Tottenham revealed on Tuesday the 42-year-old had completed his long-awaited switch from St Mary's, signing a five-year deal at White Hart Lane.

The former Argentina international's impressive 18 months as Saints boss, where he displayed a particular focus on attacking football as well as the development of the club's emerging home-grown talent, made him firm favourite for the Spurs hotseat.

In his first full season in charge at Southampton, Pochettino guided the side to their highest ever Premier League finish, ending the campaign just two places behind Spurs in eighth.

The boss had a year remaining on his deal at St Mary's but said he was honoured to move to Spurs, where he will be charged with securing the club's long-term goal of Champions League qualification, as well as gelling its talented, yet disjointed, squad.

"This is a club with tremendous history and prestige and I am honoured to have been given this opportunity to be its head coach,' he told Tottenham's official website.

"There is an abundance of top-class talent at the club and I am looking forward to starting work with the squad.

"Tottenham Hotspur has a huge following across the world and I have great admiration for the passion the fans show for this team.

"We are determined to give the supporters the kind of attacking football and success that we are all looking to achieve."

Pochettino becomes the club's tenth manager under ambitious chairman Daniel Levy's 13-year direction, and the Spurs chief believes the Argentine is the man to get the side firing on all cylinders after a disappointing top flight season.

"In Mauricio I believe we have a head coach who, with his high energy, attacking football, will embrace the style of play we associate with our club," Levy added.

"He has a proven ability to develop each player as an individual, whilst building great team spirit and a winning mentality.

"We have a talented squad that Mauricio is excited to be coaching next season."