Tottenham Hotspur had a positive first Premier League season under Ange Postecoglou, improving drastically by challenging for a Champions League spot despite the absence of former star striker Harry Kane.
The club’s fortunes dramatically shifted in 2024/25, however. Despite thriving in the Europa League, they will finish in the bottom half of the division, very close to the relegation places. Yikes.
Many of the club’s managers over the years haven’t quite aligned with the ethos of the club, and there are only a select few who will be remembered as club legends.
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ByJack Salveson HolmesFeb 27, 2024 6 Antonio Conte – 54%
When Antonio Conte joined the North Londoners in November 2021, it was seen as a real coup for the club, having won the Serie A title with Inter a few months prior.
His arrival came after the sacking of Nuno Espírito Santo, with the club languishing in ninth but the Italian quickly changed the fortunes of the side, propelling them to a fourth-placed finish ahead of rivals Arsenal, thus qualifying for the Champions League.
Though, the following season, despite a strong start, results began to turn and a 10-minute rant – where he criticized his own players and the club – appeared to be the final straw before receiving the sack in March 2023.
Despite a sour ending, he left the club in fourth, two points clear of Newcastle United. The Lilywhites ended up finishing eighth.
5 Mauricio Pochettino – 54.27%
Mauricio Pochettino is certainly one of the most popular managers in Tottenham’s history, though, that mantle may have dampened a little after becoming Chelsea boss.
Notwithstanding that, Pochettino’s five-year spell in charge of the North Londoners was fantastic. He established the club as a Champions League regular, finishing inside the top four in four successive seasons and even reached the final of the illustrious competition in 2019.
The 2016/17 campaign saw Spurs finish as Premier League runners-up, amassing a commendable 86 points whilst playing an attractive free-flowing brand of football.
His impact on the football club will have a lasting effect, with foundations and a tremendous culture laid down during his tenure.
Many Spurs fans wanted the Argentine to return following Conte’s dismissal, which evinces his continued popularity despite being sacked in November 2019 following a poor run of form.
4 David Pleat – 54.9%
During a brief stint as full-time Tottenham boss lasting less than 18 months, David Pleat steered the Lilywhites to a third-place finish above rivals Arsenal in 1986/87.
They also reached the League Cup semi-finals and the FA Cup final, where they lost to Coventry City.
The next campaign was not so fruitful for Spurs, with Pleat leaving in October 1987 after claims surrounding his private life came to light. Despite being five points off the top upon Pleat’s departure, they ended 13th under the guidance of Terry Venables.
Pleat left having won over half his matches as Spurs’ permanent manager, with 39 wins from 71 matches. He later returned as caretaker boss on three occasions.
3 André Villas-Boas – 55%
André Villas-Boas replaced Harry Redknapp as Tottenham Hotspur manager in July 2012 and went on to manage 80 games for the Lilywhites across a 17-month stint in charge.
During his reign, he became the first Spurs manager to win at Old Trafford in the Premier League era and was awarded Manager of the Month twice.
2012/13 saw his side amass 72 points – the highest Premier League points tally the club had ever recorded at that time – though, it wasn’t enough to qualify for the Champions League, as they finished in fifth, one point adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal.
He was sacked in December 2013 following a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Liverpool, with his side in seventh.
Nevertheless, his 55% win rate is certainly praiseworthy and places him among the best-ever Spurs managers.
2 Arthur Turner – 55.1%
Arthur Turner was a servant of Tottenham Hotspur for an extraordinary 43 years between 1906-1949 in various different roles. One of his roles was as manager, first taking on the mantle in 1908 before Peter McWilliam was appointed in 1912.
He again assumed responsibility in 1942, helping Spurs through the remaining period of World War Two and the most challenging time in its history.
The Football League had been suspended during the war, but Turner’s efforts saw Cup Competitions and friendlies fulfilled.
Across his two stints as manager, he won 27 of his 49 games in charge, only conceding defeat on 11 occasions.
1 Frank Brettell – 58.7%
The manager with the best win rate is Frank Brettell, who managed Spurs for 11 years between 1888 and 1899. He won 37 of his 63 matches in charge before resigning to join Portsmouth, who offered him a more lucrative deal.
During his tenure, he signed a number of players from the north of England, including Everton’s John Cameron, who became his successor in 1899 and makes this list in sixth.
Of course, it would be unfair to include Ange Postecoglou in the list at this stage as he’s not long been in charge of the north London club, but if things carry on in the direction they’re currently going in then he could just make it onto this list once he has a bigger pool of games to draw stats and comparisons from.