Tottenham Hotspur is reportedly seriously considering the possibility of a managerial change amid their ongoing poor performance. At the center of this is Oliver Glasner, the manager leading Crystal Palace.
TBR Football reported on the 10th that "Tottenham has begun contacting top managers in the Premier League amid growing concerns over the performance of manager Ange Postecoglou," and "they see Glasner as a leading candidate and have made preliminary contact."
Glasner has been mentioned as a candidate for the next manager of Tottenham even in 2023. Since he was seriously considered within Tottenham at that time, the club's renewed interest in him is likely related to their recent decline.
This season, Tottenham has suffered an astonishing 16 losses in 31 league matches. This is the worst record since 1977, and there is considerable erosion of trust in manager Postecoglou within the club.
The UEFA Europa League (UEL) is the only tournament left with a chance for victory, but they drew 1-1 in the first leg of the quarterfinal against Frankfurt, putting pressure on them to win the away leg.
TBR Football reported that "Tottenham attempted initial contact to gauge Glasner's view on his situation."
Other candidates for the next manager whom Tottenham contacted include Marco Silva (Fulham) and Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), and there are analyses suggesting that they are operating on a faster and more aggressive replacement plan than anticipated.
Currently, Glasner is under contract with Crystal Palace until the summer of 2026, but negotiations for a new contract with the club are reportedly stagnating.
According to TBR Football, "Glasner is already aware of Tottenham's interest and is currently waiting for a clear explanation regarding the chairman's long-term plans."
German media Sport Bild also reported that "Tottenham has had actual contact with Glasner's camp." In addition, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen are also reportedly considering hiring Glasner, with Bayer Leverkusen looking at Glasner as a replacement if manager Xabi Alonso moves to another club.
Glasner, who hails from Austria, has proven his leadership in the German Bundesliga. He was appointed as the manager of Wolfsburg in 2019 and later led Frankfurt to victory in the 2021-2022 UEFA Europa League, building his reputation.
Since taking over Crystal Palace in February 2023 as a firefighter, Glasner has successfully stabilized the team and has raised them to 11th place in the Premier League this season, which is higher than Tottenham, currently in 14th.
Glasner's tactics are based on an organic pressing system with a three-back formation and quick transition play. He is known for not just a simple defense-oriented counterattack but for seeking fluidity between positions and a balance between offense and defense. His emphasis on utilizing the flanks is thought to fit strategically with Tottenham, which boasts numerous attacking full-back resources.
Manager Postecoglou received praise for exceeding expectations with his performance at the start of the season, but his evaluation has been shaken by a lack of strategic flexibility, timing issues with substitutions, and controversies over player usage following the middle of the season. There is also a possibility that the likelihood of a dismissal may become clearer depending on the league results and the outcome in the Europa League.
It appears that Tottenham is simultaneously continuing under-the-radar contacts with multiple candidates, including Glasner. It is expected that decisions regarding Tottenham's direction and whether Glasner will choose to move to London will become clearer in the coming days.
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