Jurgen Klinsmann open to becoming new Spurs manager

Tottenham cult legend Jurgen Klinsmann has said he would always be open to the idea of returning to the club amid the search for a new permanent manager to replace the sacked Jose Mourinho.

Spurs took the decision to dismiss Mourinho in April, just 18 months after his surprise appointment. Former midfielder Ryan Mason guided the team as interim coach until the end of the season, but chairman Daniel Levy has a big call to make about the next permanent boss.

Talks are rumoured to have started with former Wigan and Everton manager Roberto Martinez, currently in charge of Belgium, while there has been speculation about Nuno Espirito Santo since his departure from Wolves was announced. Even Mauricio Pochettino has been linked.

Klinsmann proved incredibly popular with Spurs fans during spells as a player in the 1990s. He turned to coaching after his retirement and has said he would ‘definitely’ consider taking the Spurs job should Levy get in touch with him.

“Definitely you'd entertain it, no doubt,” the 1990 World Cup winner told Sky Sports.

“[Daniel Levy] has my number, he can call me anytime. Spurs is something that you'd always consider. I'm always in touch and doing stuff with Spurs is always something special. I had the best time of my life there during my two spells.

“In the football world, things happen so fast. I never thought I'd coach Germany or the United States so you have to have an open mind. You have to always think about new challenges, so why not Spurs?”

Klinsmann’s first managerial gig came in 2004 when he was appointed head coach of the Germany national team following a disastrous European Championship. In that role, he played a major part in a national team overhaul that is credited with paving the way for World Cup glory ten years later.

Klinsmann himself only stayed in charge until 2006, taking Germany to third place in the World Cup on home soil, before handing the reins to assistant Joachim Low.

He later had a season in charge of Bayern Munich, before advising as a technical consultant at Toronto FC in MLS, and then spending five years in charge of the United States national team. His most recent job was a ten-week spell at Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin in 2019/20.

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