It’s been a while, y’all! I’m sure everyone missed reading these so much. ;) Between COVID and moving and everything else in between, I got out of a rhythm of writing blogs. The sad part is there was a lot of soccer news and stories to cover at that time. Anyway, I’m back and ready to drop some footy insight.
Change in Management
I’ll get back into the swing of things by talking about my favorite team, Tottenham Hotspur. We’re roughly 9 months into the reign of Jose Mourinho, one of the world’s most successful managers. His presence at the club continues to be controversial - Spurs supporters spent the previous 5 seasons backing a manager in Mauricio Pochettino who would’ve done anything for the club, while Jose is far more about himself. Mourinho carries an ego that goes against the Tottenham way and everything that Poch spent building. The question at hand - are better results worth it if the football itself is boring and the Spurs identity is lost?
Why did Poch leave Spurs in the first place? After making the final of the Champions League in 2019, Tottenham started the next season terribly. Long story short, Pochettino was fired in November after the team was embarrassed 7-2 at home by Bayern Munich and a terrible spot in the league table. Up steps Jose Mourinho, whose previous role ended sourly with Manchester United. Many say his best days are behind him. Whatever the case, Spurs improved enough under Jose to qualify for the Europa League. It wasn’t pretty and it’s certainly no fairytale story, but statistically speaking, Tottenham have improved under Jose’s leadership.
This season has started interestingly. They’ve had a few games where they look fantastic, and other times when the effort is alarming. They’re performing like a team that is seeking an identity. Whatever the case, it is difficult to predict Tottenham’s season and their short-term future. Nevertheless, Jose’s impact on the club will be long-lasting.
“Big” Club
In two transfer windows under Jose Mourinho, we’ve signed more elite and proven players than we did in 5+ seasons under Pochettino. We’ve now seen the return of a club legend that likely wouldn’t have come under a different manager. We’re even about to sign a legitimate striker to back up Harry Kane! We’ve joked about this for years and it’s FINALLY happening. This isn’t a criticism - Poch built his legacy at Spurs while Mourinho came a legend. He can demand more and it will push this club to continuously invest and remain one of the world’s best. We’ve seen a charismatic man step out of his shadow on Amazon’s All or Nothing series while documenting Tottenham last season, and it’s easy to see why he carries the influence he does.
Spurs very likely won’t win a Premier League or Champions League title under Jose Mourinho. Hell, there’s a good chance we don’t win a single trophy under him and the internet will absolutely destroy Tottenham for being the first club Jose couldn’t bring a title to. However, with increasingly global brand popularity, a brand new world-class stadium, and a group of players that become more famous each season, Mourinho is the perfect man in charge to take us to new heights. His impact will be felt long after his departure, and his successor will likely owe gratitude to the foundation he is laying at the club.
Not gonna lie I felt super rusty writing this - maybe I shouldn’t go on a 6-month break from writing about soccer again!
Author: Living in Southern California, Robert Sweeney has been a fan of soccer since he played as a young child. Since then, he’s become a diehard Tottenham and US National Team fan. Rob enjoys writing about the impact soccer has had on his life in hopes that it betters others as well. Twitter: @robsweeney11