Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur players 'relieved with Antonio Conte exit'

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 27 March 2023

Tottenham players 'relieved with Antonio Conte exit'

Several first-team players at Tottenham Hotspur are 'pleased' to have seen head coach Antonio Conte leave the club, according to a report.

On Sunday evening, Spurs announced that the 53-year-old had departed the club by mutual consent after just 16 months at the helm.

Tottenham were eliminated from the FA Cup and Champions League under Conte's tutelage earlier this month, while a 3-3 Premier League draw at Southampton proved to be the final nail in the Italian's coffin after he launched a scathing attack on his "selfish" players and criticised the club's hierarchy.

Conte has since returned to his family home in Turin and has taken to Instagram to thanks "everyone" at Spurs, particularly the fans, during his time in North London.

"Football is passion. I would like to deeply thank everyone at SPURS who appreciated and shared my passion and my intense way of living football as a coach," said Conte.

Antonio Conte in charge of Tottenham Hotspur in January 2023 © Reuters

"A special thought to the Fans who always showed me support and appreciation, it's been unforgettable to hear them singing my name. Our journey together has ended, I wish you all the best for the future."

Conte's former assistant Cristian Stellini has been placed in charge for the final 10 games of the season, while Ryan Mason will act as assistant coach.

After Conte decided to hit out at his players following the Premier League draw at Southampton, a number of first-team members were allegedly keen to see the Italian sacked during the international break.

According to the Evening Standard, Tottenham's hierarchy had little choice but to part ways with Conte as his relationship with his players had deteriorated, and the first-team squad are now 'pleased' to see the back of the former Chelsea boss.

The report adds that Conte's tendency to deflect blame for poor results onto his squad in the public and his repetitive training sessions were key factors behind Daniel Levy's decision to negotiate a mutual exit for the Italian.

Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann on March 19, 2023 © Reuters

Levy is now tasked with appointing a new head coach ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, with Julian Nagelsmann recently emerging as one of the frontrunners to succeed Conte.

A recent report claims that Spurs have made contact with the 35-year-old who is at the top of Levy's 10-man managerial shortlist.

Nagelsmann is out of work after being relieved of his duties at Bayern Munich last week, with Thomas Tuchel brought in as his replacement.

Nagelsmann is expected to take time to make a final decision on his future, with Spurs potentially facing competition from Real Madrid for the German's signature amid uncertainty over the future of Carlo Ancelotti.

Premier League quartet Roberto De Zerbi, Marco Silva, Thomas Frank and Steve Cooper have also been liked with the managerial vacancy along with Luis Enrique, Sergio Conceicao, Ange Postecoglou and Oliver Glasner.

Tottenham, who currently sit fourth in the Premier League table, return to action on April 3 when they travel to Goodison Park to face relegation-threatened Everton.