Which Managers could replace Antonio Conte at Spurs?

It has not exactly been smooth sailing at Tottenham Hotspur this season. Having signed Antonio Conte as manager back in November of 2021 there was huge excitement. He became the first Spurs manager to go unbeaten in their first eight games and finished fourth in the Premier League in his first season.

He then had his first summer at the club to prepare the team for the season ahead, some new signings were made like Richarlison from Everton and Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan. Sports betting sites like DraftKings had them tipped to be competing once again at the top of the table under Antonio Conte’s management. His reputation of being tough to beat and counter attacking with forwards like Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son and Dejan Kulusevski looked a formidable line up.

But things haven’t worked out exactly how we thought they would go. Conte seems rattled and frustrated with his side who keep giving up goals and having to come from behind in games.

They remain in the Champions League when it restarts in the knockout rounds in February where they face AC Milan. In the Premier League they are still pushing for a top four place, but the performances and the frustration from Conte who seems to feel a number of his players are not good enough, is suggesting replacements may be being lined up for the Italian.

Some managers who may fit the bill to replace Antonio Conte could include:

Julian Stephan

The French manager is just 42 years old and worked his way up through the ranks at Rennes after a short career as a footballer in France which failed to really take off. He was the Rennes U19 coach for three seasons from 2012 before moving up to Rennes B in 2015 before taking control of the first team in 2018.

In 2021 he moved to Strasbourg. In his first season with the club, he guided them to sixth in Ligue 1, something they had failed to accomplish since the 1979-80 season. He was though sacked in January 2023 after the new season got off to the worst of starts, winning just one game in 17, losing eight.

He favors a wing back system with a back three, like Conte, which would make the transition smooth. Having not been at a club of Spurs standing financially, he would believe he could get a lot out of whoever is registered rather than demanding new signings to Chairman Daniel Levy.

Raul Gonzalez

One of the greatest strikers to play the game, the former Real Madrid player and legend has is currently part of the U19 and B team management group at Real Madrid’s B. His standing in the game is one that can’t be argued, and his reputation is enough to make him a candidate.

Raul had previously trained with Spurs back in 2018 as he was working towards his UEFA Pro License and learn under former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino. Going into his third season as the B team manager, Raul has had a number of offers from around Europe but he has held tight waiting for the right opportunity.

He is building his reputation and learning from the best. He has a reputation in the game which players will respect immediately and one which fans would be excited about.

Xabi Alonso

Despite recently taking over a Bayer Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso is still being monitored by a number of teams who would be happy to put up the price to bring him in.

A successful period at Real Sociedad B has led him to Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga. He has a flexible and attacking style of play, often in a 4-2-3-1 formation which would change the way Spurs play.

This may come as a breath of fresh air to Spurs fans who are at times frustrated with the defensive style of play which Conte adopts. He has a reputation in England after a successful playing career and has been getting a lot from young players. This would be a real plus to a Spurs side who are struggling to bring through young players into their first team and relying on signings year on year.

Marcelo Gallardo

After an excellent playing career in Argentina, Europe and the United States, Gallardo took over Nacional after retiring from playing and stepped into managing the club days later in 2010.  He led the team to the Uruguayan Championship in his first full season, defending the title after winning the league the year he retired.

In 2014 he moved to River Plate and built a dominant side in South American football which produced the likes of Julian Álvarez and Enzo Fernandez. He spent eight years with the team as manager winning the Copa Libertadores twice, the Copa Sudamericana one, the Recopa Sudamericana three times as well as the Argentine Premier División in 2021

He plays exciting, attacking football which fans would enjoy, while having operated on lower budgets to what Spurs have right now. He has built a strong reputation in South America which has got some of the biggest teams in Europe considering the Argentine for a management role in the near future.