For the third time in less than two years, Tottenham are searching for a new manager, but when a resurgent Manchester United visit North London on Thursday, Daniel Levy might cast a glance to the commanding figure in the away dugout and curse the one that got away.
In truth, that description doesn't really do it justice. Erik ten Hag didn't get away from Tottenham, rather Tottenham let him go. The then Ajax manager was interviewed for the post before Nuno Espirito Santo was appointed, but according to reports at the time in the Netherlands, he didn't make a convincing impression.
Considering how badly Levy and Spurs flunked that search, it seems remarkable they didn't eventually land on Ten Hag. Nuno was well down the list of preferred candidates. He was so far down it that he was overlooked once but appointed when everyone else ruled themselves out.
