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Next Tottenham Hotspur manager: Five contenders

Following the news that Andre Villas-Boas is leaving Tottenham Hotspur, Sports Mole assesses five of the early contenders to replace him.

It came as little surprise when Tottenham Hotspur confirmed earlier today that they had parted company with head coach Andre Villas-Boas.

The club took the decision in the wake of yesterday afternoon's 5-0 home defeat at the hands of Liverpool.

As always in these cases, the rumour mill has already gone into overdrive regarding who will replace the departing Portuguese manager at White Hart Lane. Here, Sports Mole has picked out five of the early contenders.


Russia's head coach Fabio Capello speaks to his players during his teams friendly international football match against Serbia in Dubai's Al Wasl stadium on November 15, 2013© Getty Images
1. Fabio Capello
He hardly covered himself in glory during his four-year stint in charge of England, but Capello's record at club level cannot be called into question. Having taken charge of the likes of Real Madrid, Juventus and AC Milan, the 67-year-old has the experience of managing at the highest level. He is also known to be a close friend of Tottenham's director of football Franco Baldini - the pair worked together with the Three Lions.
Odds: 6/4

Swansea boss Michael Laudrup on the touchline during his team's Europa League group match against Valencia on September 19, 2013© AFP
2. Michael Laudrup
In terms of the style of football that the Spurs supporters demand, Laudrup could well be the most suitable fit. The Dane likes his sides to get the ball down and play a short, passing style. He guided Swansea City to the League Cup last season, but there is a school of thought that he has taken the Welsh outfit as far as he can. If the North Londoners were to come calling, the former Barcelona and Real Madrid playmaker may find it hard to reject their advances.
Odds: 9/2

Head coach Guus Hiddink of FC Anzhi Makhachkala looks on during the Russian Cup Final match between FC Anji Makhachkala and PFC CSKA Moscow at the Akhmat-Arena Stadium on June 01, 2013© Getty Images
3. Guus Hiddink
His time in the Premier League with Chelsea may have been interim and brief in 2009, but Hiddink made a big impression. He guided the Blues to FA Cup success and generally restored order to the club. He was recently dismissed by Anzhi Makhachkala, which in turn means that he is out of work. With Spurs chairman Daniel Levy known to be extremely money-conscious, the fact that he would not have to pay any compensation to land the 67-year-old may well prove to be a key factor.
Odds: 7/1

Former England manager Glenn Hoddle is interviewed for British televison ahead of the UEFA Champions League football match between Benfica and Chelsea at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, on March 26, 2012© Getty Images
4. Glenn Hoddle
There is a saying in football that stresses that a footballer should never return to his old stomping ground. A hero among the Spurs faithful as a player, Hoddle took charge of the club for two years between 2001 and 2003. Having been out of the managerial game since he left Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2006, the former England boss is known to be keen to return to the coaching side of the game. It would be a gamble, but as with Hiddink, no compensation would be required.
Odds: 10/1

USA manager Jurgen Klinsmann during the International Friendly match between Scotland and USA at Hampden Park on November 15, 2013© Getty Images
5. Jurgen Klinsmann
The German had two playing spells at White Hart Lane, which saw him earn cult status among large parts of the Tottenham faithful. He has failed to take his undoubted playing talent into the role as manager, though. The German had a spell in charge of his country, before he went on to fail to produce the goods during one season at the helm of Bayern Munich. The 49-year-old is now the coach of the USA national side, whom he has guided to next year's World Cup in Brazil. With all of that in mind, Klinsmann should be regarded as an outside chance at this present moment in time.
Odds: 16/1

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Manager Andre Villas Boas of Spurs looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on October 20, 2013
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