Tottenham Hotspur sack Mauricio Pochettino as coach

Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed they have sacked Mauricio Pochettino as the side's coach, just five months after the side reached the Champions League final.

"The Club can today announce that Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff Jesus Perez, Miguel D'Agostino and Antoni Jimenez have been relieved of their duties," Tottenham, who sit 14th in the Premier League, said in a statement.

We were extremely reluctant to make this change and it is not a decision the board has taken lightly, nor in haste," said Spurs' chairman Daniel Levy.

"Regrettably domestic results at the end of last season and beginning of this season have been extremely disappointing."

"Mauricio and his coaching staff will always be part of our history," added Levy.

Pochettino, 47, joined Spurs from Southampton in 2014 and has been instrumental in turning Tottenham into Champions League regulars over the past four seasons. That culminated in a dramatic run to the club's first ever European Cup final in June, which they lost 2-0 to Liverpool in Madrid.

However, domestically results have been on the decline since February. Spurs had the faltering fortunes of Arsenal and Manchester United to thank for them clinging onto a top-four finish last season as they won just three of their final 12 league games.

That form has continued at the start of this season with just three wins from their opening 12 games leaving Tottenham already 11 points outside the top four and 20 behind leaders Liverpool.

"I have the utmost admiration for the manner in which he dealt with the difficult times away from a home ground whilst we built the new stadium and for the warmth and positivity he brought to us. I should like to thank him and his coaching staff for all they have contributed. They will always be welcome here.

"We have a talented squad. We need to re-energise and look to deliver a positive season for our supporters."

According to reports in English media outlets, Pochettino and his coaching staff will pocket more than £12 million from his firing, given he signed a five-year deal in May 2018.

Tottenham said in a statement that they would provide an update on new coaching staff "in due course."

"It falls to the board to make the difficult decisions – this one made more so given the many memorable moments we have had with Mauricio and his coaching staff – but we do so in the club's best interests."

– TIMES/AFP