A new name has emerged as a potential candidate for the vacant Tottenham Hotspur job this week…
What’s the word?
According to Duncan Castles and Ian McGarry on ‘The Transfer Window’ podcast, Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini is a manager that Spurs have on their radar to replace Jose Mourinho, who joined their Serie A rivals AS Roma on Tuesday.
“We also understand here at the Transfer Window Podcast, that another manager who is of great interest to Tottenham and indeed who they have inquired about – and ironically is also in Serie A – is Gian Piero Gasperini who has been in charge of Atalanta, who have become something of a surprise club in European football in the past few years.
“Gasperini is not the young and dynamic coach which Tottenham have effectively described to agents as their preference. However, he is a very experienced manager and he’s certainly an interesting character who is dependent on a hyper-offensive possession-based style of play. He likes to pressure teams in the same way Jurgen Klopp does with Liverpool.”
“It is our information that a high-profile agent in Europe has informed Gasperini of Spurs’ interest and he has responded positively.”
Spurs fans, does talk of Gasperini excite you?
Yes, get him in!
No way, too old!
Exciting appointment
The vastly experienced 63-year-old has done great things at La Dea since his appointment in the summer of 2016. Across 234 matches in charge, he’s accrued a 53% win rate, but more impressively, has averaged a whopping two goals per game whilst competing against Italian giants Juventus and both Milan clubs.
By comparison, Mourinho was thought to have “sucked the culture” out of Spurs with his defensively-minded tactics and boring training sessions, despite winning 52% of his matches in North London.
Supporters were equally frustrated by the Special One’s seemingly dated playing style, with some brandishing him a “dinosaur” and “washed-up” after defeat to Liverpool this year, via talkSPORT.
It’s no wonder Levy is targeting an attack-focused successor and in Gasperini, there cannot be many better candidates as his Atalanta team are one of the most attacking and relentless in Europe.
As described on the aforementioned podcast, the Italian’s playing style is “hyper-offensive” and “possession-based,” which places focus on scoring goals, work rate off the ball and quick tempo passing rather than the defensive side of things – a stark, stark contrast to Mourinho.
His fluid 3-4-3 system utilises wing-backs to great effect as they are practically wide midfielders and that could suit the likes of Sergio Reguilon and Matt Doherty in the current Spurs set up.
Gasperini has caught the eye of Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, who seemingly adores the Atalanta boss after he claimed to be a big fan of his when the two teams met earlier this year.
“Gasperini has done a great job. He was the coach of the Primavera youth team at Juventus when I was there. I really like him as a coach,” explained the three-time UCL winner. “Atalanta have proved themselves on the pitch, changing two or three players this year to improve even more. It’s going to be difficult and we have to prove that we’re a strong team.”
The 63-year-old has transformed Atalanta, qualifying for the Champions League in three straight seasons, and that has earned him the Serie A coach of the year award for a second successive campaign.
Spurs have not featured on the big stage since their final heartbreak in 2019, so perhaps Gasperini could steer them back on track and at the same time, bring some much-needed excitement and entertainment back to the Hotspur faithful.
AND in other news, Levy could banish a four-year problem by signing £18m-rated “special player” who “gives 100%”…