The Italian’s assistant, Cristian Stellini, has been
appointed acting head coach for the rest of the season.
The announcement comes just over a week after Conte
delivered a post-match rant in which he accused the team’s players of being
“selfish” and also took aim at the club’s ownership.
“We have 10 Premier League games remaining and we have a
fight on our hands for a Champions League place,” Tottenham chairman Daniel
Levy said in a club statement released Sunday night. “We all need to pull
together. Everyone has to step up to ensure the highest possible finish for our
Club and amazing, loyal supporters.”
Conte was in charge of Tottenham for 16 months but was
unable to end its trophy drought stretching back to 2008.
His tenure ended in an undignified way, with his outburst
after the 3-3 draw at Southampton making his departure almost inevitable. His
contract was due to expire at the end of the season.
The 53-year-old Conte tore into his players for what he
perceived to be a poor attitude, accusing them of not playing as a team and
failing to deal with pressure, before saying: “20 years there is the (same)
owner and they never won something.”
After days of speculation about his future, Tottenham confirmed
his exit.
“We can announce that Head Coach Antonio Conte has left the
Club by mutual agreement,” the London club said in its statement. “We achieved
Champions League qualification in Antonio’s first season at the Club. We thank
Antonio for his contribution and wish him well for the future.”
Conte leaves with Tottenham out of the Champions League and
FA Cup, ensuring it will not win any silverware this season. But the team is in
fourth place in the league and in contention to qualify for the Champions
League again next season.
Tottenham appointed former Chelsea manager Conte as the
replacement for Nuno Espirito Santo in November 2021, with the club in eighth
place. He succeeded in guiding it to a top-four finish, one of only three
Tottenham managers to have done so in the Premier League era.
Mauricio Pochettino achieved Champions League qualification
in four consecutive seasons between 2015-16 and 2018-19, while Harry Redknapp
did so twice in 2009-10 and 2011-12.
Tottenham spent about $140 million since Conte’s arrival,
including $73.5 million on Brazil forward Richarlison. The most recent signing
was Pedro Porro, a wing back bought because he suits Conte’s ideal 3-4-3
formation.
Conte has just returned to the touchline after recovering
from gallbladder surgery and also has had to contend with personal trauma
following the deaths of three close friends over the past five months —
Tottenham fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone, and former players Sinisa
Mihajlovic and Gianluca Vialli.
His outburst after Southampton was surprising even for a
manager who has developed a reputation for being fiery.
“They don’t want to play under pressure. They don’t want to
play under stress,” he said.
Some interpreted it as evidence he wanted to go.
“Conte wants to be sacked (fired) in this international
break,” TV commentator Jamie Carragher wrote on Twitter at the time. “Spurs
should just put him out of his misery and do it tonight.”
Stellini led Tottenham’s first team while Conte was
recovering from his recent surgery, which included the loss to second-tier
Sheffield United in the FA Cup.
Ryan Mason has been appointed as assistant head coach. -AP
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