The former Wolves boss was a last resort at the end of a chaotic and increasingly desperate search for a successor to Jose Mourinho, and nothing in his four-month reign suggested the initial reservations about his suitability for the job were unfounded.
Nuno’s authority was limited from day one by virtue of being seventh or eighth choice for the job and being handed just a two-year deal — and his position was further eroded by dismal performances.
It reach the point where supporters openly revolted against the Portuguese, chairman Daniel Levy and even Harry Kane during Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat to Manchester United.
Before the game, which had been dubbed ‘El Sackico’ by fans to reflect the intense pressure on both Nuno and United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Levy was minded to give Nuno time, accepting that the club was starting a new cycle which could take a while to peak.
The fans’ mutiny changed that, and left Levy wary that the ire would quickly turn on him if the situation was allowed to fester.
He and managing director Fabio Paratici now desperately need to get their next appointment right after another decision backfired on the club.
Nuno quickly came to be a manager trapped between the style he knew how to play and the style he was expected to play at Spurs.
This story is from the November 01, 2021 edition of Evening Standard.
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This story is from the November 01, 2021 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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