Tottenham appoint former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas as new manager

Former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has been appointed as Tottenham Hotspur’s new manager after the North London club sacked Harry Redknapp in June. Villas-Boas himself lost his job as Chelsea manager last season after disappointing results, although Chelsea eventually turned their season around under interim boss Roberto Di Matteo, going on to win the FA Cup and Carling Cup and appointing the Italian as their full time head coach.

Villas-Boas, who is still just 34 years-old, has a reputation for playing attacking football which bodes well for Tottenham, given their current squad. The Portugese coach, commonly referred to as AVB in the British media, tried to rejuvenate Chelsea’s 2011 / 12 Premier League campaign by bringing in younger players rather than persisting with the old guard, but results began to dip amid rumours that the former FC Porto boss had lost the confidence of the Chelsea dressing room. In sharp contrast, ex-Spurs boss Redknapp has always had a fantastic bond with his players and is well known for his ability to both motivate and man-manage. New Spurs boss AVB’s first task is likely to be trying to secure the services of want away attacking midfielder Luka Modric, with Real Madrid and Manchester United looking to secure the services of the Croatian international before the summer transfer window closes on 31 August.

AVB is likely to have to try and adopt a similar approach to Redknapp in order to succeed, given some of the big names and egos in the White Hart Lane dressing room. As well as trying to tie Modric down to a new contract, Villas-Boas is also reported to be keen on signing out of favour Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge, while an £8million deal for Hoffenheim’s Gylfi Sigurdsson has already been agreed as well as the signing of Ajax and Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen. AVB is keen to dip into the summer transfer window for one or two further recruits, while Welsh winger Gareth Bale’s decision to sign a new 4 year contract with the club keeping him at Tottenham until 2016 comes as a timely boost for the newly appointed coach, who will be expected to secure Champions League football for Spurs chairman Daniel Levy next season.

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