Tottenham are among the big clubs in England, boasting a significant fan base. And managing Spurs is certainly no easy task, given the immense pressure that comes with the role.
One such example is the former Spurs midfielder Glenn Hoddle, who had the opportunity to lead the North London outfit two decades ago.
Hoddle’s journey as a manager at Tottenham began in March 2001 when he assumed the role, succeeding George Graham.
Accompanied by John Gorman as his assistant, Hoddle embarked on what he hoped would be a successful tenure.
However, his time at the helm was fraught with challenges that ultimately left him sad and disheartened.
Hoddle reveals what it was like managing Tottenham
Speaking about his managerial stint on Chris Cowlin’s YouTube show, Hoddle revealed the inner turmoil he experienced during his time at Spurs.
Despite his deep-rooted desire to bring glory to the club, Hoddle found himself grappling with internal politics, financial constraints, and squad depth issues.
Reflecting on his tenure, he lamented:
“It’s too long to go through but, very quickly, it should have been the place where I was the happiest in management and it wasn’t, I was the unhappiest. And that says it all doesn’t it? As I wanted to do so much, so well for the club.
“But the politics of the club was wrong, there wasn’t any finances there, the squad didn’t have the right depth. It was a very frustrating time for me it really was but you know, you move on. Looking back, it was probably the most disappointing and the saddest time for me as a manager.”
Hoddle’s tenure at Tottenham
Hoddle’s debut saw Spurs lose 2–1 to Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final. Despite reaching the League Cup final in February 2002, Tottenham lost 2–1 to Blackburn Rovers. The club finished ninth in the 2001–02 Premiership season.
In the subsequent season, Spurs started brightly, leading the league in August 2002. However, their performance declined, resulting in a 10th-place finish.
Hoddle was dismissed in September 2003 due to the poor start in the following campaign, securing only four points from their first six league matches.
TBH Says:
One has to sympathize with Hoddle. The issues he mentioned have also contributed to the departure of recent managers at the club, including the likes of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, two managers in the recent history known for their ability to win trophies.
However, the current man in charge, Ange Postecoglou, seems to have things under control for now. There have been quite a few positive changes behind the scenes as well and for now things are looking positive.
