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.
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Hansi Flick, Antonio Conte, Paulo Fonseca, Gennaro Gattuso and Mauricio Pochettino were all either considered or approached, but circumstances meant the underwhelming Nuno was the last man standing. He was sacked after 17 games and a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United, then managed by an under-pressure Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Conte did then agree to join and when they finished fourth last season it looked like progress, but that has exploded dramatically this season. The combustible Conte burnt his bridges with the players and the decision to let his assistant Christian Stellini take charge was a strange one. So it proved at St James' Park on Sunday.
Now Spurs will almost certainly miss out on the Champions League and will be searching for another new manager. While the fans want Pochettino, Levy has ignored those claims so far and the Argentine looks set to go to Chelsea instead.
That would make the next move even more important. When United were looking for a new permanent manager last year it came down to Ten Hag and Pochettino. It was the Dutchman who impressed most of all in discussions. Now those two bosses, both of whom could be in charge at Spurs now, could be leading two of their Premier League rivals next season.
There's certainly been no cause for regret at Old Trafford. The decision between Pochettino and Ten Hag was a close one, but the latter has proved to be an exceptional choice. He unified the football side of the club, signing vital players, beginning to mould a playing style and winning a trophy. Two cup finals and a top-four finish is going to be an exceptional return for his first season.
Ten Hag has done at United what Tottenham need now. A disciplinarian to come in and improve standards on the pitch, while demanding more support off it. It's no coincidence United pushed their budget last summer to accommodate the demands of their new manager.
When Tottenham passed on Ten Hag in the summer of 2021, it was reported they had concerns over his English and weren't convinced by his charisma. His communication skills in English have improved as his first season at United has gone on and whatever you think of his charisma, what he has is clout and the respect of the dressing room. That matters more than anything else.
It's fair to say Levy has learnt that since deciding Ten Hag wasn't for him. Nuno never earned that respect. Conte had it and you'd never accuse him of lacking charisma, but his fiery approach to the job began to erode relationships pretty quickly.
Ten Hag has picked his moments to take on his players this season. The decision to make them run 13.8kms the day after the defeat at Brentford in August - and crucially, to join them in the exercise - now looks inspired. He was extremely critical after last week's defeat in Seville, but he picks and chooses his moments.
He also gets a response every time he raises the decibel level. There have been some bad days on his watch this season, but the overriding impression is of a club that has found the right manager and is on the right track. When United visited North London on Thursday, they will encounter the exact opposite of that.
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