Tottenham Hotspur and Antonio Conte have finally parted ways, after an 18-month stint that saw the Italian lead the team to a top-four finish last season. The decision to terminate the contract was made just eight days after a controversial outburst from Conte at the end of a 3-3 draw against Southampton.
However, it seems that there were underlying issues between the coach and the club’s boardroom that had been brewing for months. According to the Daily Mail, Conte’s relationship with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy had become so strained that the two barely spoke to each other in the final months of his tenure.
The report suggests that Conte had been eyeing the PSG job, leading to “trust issues” between him and members of the board. The club’s sporting director, Fabio Paratici, was acting as a mediator between the two parties. The boardroom shift at Tottenham also saw a change in attitude towards Conte, with leaders at the club no longer pining for him to extend his stay.
Conte’s appointment at Spurs had been met with surprise by some, given his reputation for being a demanding manager who expects full control over transfer dealings. His initial 18-month contract raised eyebrows, and the fact that Tottenham did not offer him a new deal after last season’s top-four finish was seen as concerning.
Despite these concerns, the club fully believed in Conte until the turn of 2023. However, things quickly changed, and it became clear that he had no future at Spurs by February.
While Conte’s departure may have been inevitable, it is clear that his time at Tottenham was not a total failure. He is a highly regarded manager who managed to lead Spurs ahead of Arsenal to finish inside the top four. However, his public outburst and reported issues with the boardroom made it clear that he could not continue as the team’s coach.
Now, the focus is on Daniel Levy to find the right man for the job. Tottenham Hotspur has a talented squad and a loyal fanbase, and the next manager will have big shoes to fill. Whoever is appointed will need to be able to work with the club’s board and deliver the results that the team’s supporters crave.