Tottenham has fired Jose Mourinho from the lead after 17 months, the club have confirmed.
Spurs announced the decision Monday morning, less than 12 hours after confirming they will be founders of a new European Super League alongside five other English clubs, including Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool.
Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy said: “Jose and his coaching staff have been through some of our most challenging times as a club. Jose is a true professional who showed tremendous resilience during the pandemic.
“On a personal level, I have enjoyed working with him and I am sorry it didn’t work out as we both envisioned. He will always be welcome here and we would like to thank him and his technical staff for their contribution.”
Tottenham is seventh in the Premier League, five points behind the top four, and will play against Manchester City in the EFL Cup final on Sunday.
Mourinho had lost 13 games in all competitions this season, more than any other in his management career, and sources told ESPN that several team members had become frustrated with his willingness to publicly criticize the players after defeats.
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The 58-year-old succeeded Mauricio Pochettino in November 2019 with the specific goal of winning silverware and maintaining the club’s presence in the Champions League.
Mourinho had recently shown signs of tension during tense exchanges with reporters at news conferences, but sources claim he harbored a belief that beating City this weekend and handing out the club’s first trophy since 2008 would give him time.
ESPN reported on February 19 that Spurs wanted to wait until the end of the season before deciding Mourinho’s fate, mainly to clarify which European league the club would play in next season. They remain in a battle to qualify for the Champions League, but that competition has been plunged into chaos by Sunday night’s dramatic announcement of the formation of a new Super League in which Spurs intend to participate.
While there will likely be a slew of legal challenges and strong opposition from the game’s existing structure, those clubs at the forefront of the breakaway are confident in the success and the timing of Mourinho’s departure is another sign Spurs expects this new vision will be. a reality.
Spurs confirmed that coach Ryan Mason will take up training on Monday. Sources have told ESPN that Mason and Chris Powell will likely be appointed on an interim basis until the end of the season, when the search for a new manager begins.