Tottenham Hotspur have suffered an enormous blow before the summer transfer window has really got going.
Ange Postecoglou can be pretty happy from a transfer perspective as Tottenham Hotspur already have two signings done and dusted.
Lucas Bergvall will start his Tottenham career after signing from Djurgarden whilst Timo Werner has returned on loan from RB Leipzig.
That is a good start for Postecoglou but the Tottenham boss has now suffered a major blow.
Assistant coach Chris Davies has decided to leave Tottenham for a move to Birmingham City, becoming their new manager on a four-year deal.
Davies has decided to fly the nest and forge his own path as a manager, with Postecoglou praising him as ‘outstanding’ during his time at Tottenham.
Postecoglou must now look to find a replacement ahead of Tottenham’s pre-season training, so here are eight options for Spurs to consider after losing Davies…
Ryan Mason
The ‘easiest’ move would be for Tottenham to promote Ryan Mason. The former Tottenham midfielder is already on Postecoglou’s staff and could be given a bigger role with Davies gone. Mason, 32, has already been interim Tottenham boss on two occasions and a more important role may be the next step in his development as a coach.
John Kennedy
Postecoglou’s assistant at Celtic, Kennedy was linked to Tottenham last summer but he admitted to picking another stint under Brendan Rodgers at Parkhead rather than a move to Spurs. The Scot may come into the frame again for Postecoglou and Tottenham this summer, having won another league title in Glasgow this past season.
Justin Cochrane
A former Tottenham Hotspur youth team coach, Cochrane left the club to coach the England Under-16’s in 2019. Cochrane has since coached in the Manchester United academy and is now Brentford’s Head of Coaching. The 42-year-old is a highly-regarded coach and Tottenham may well have kept tabs on his progress as a coach since leaving the club five years ago. A key role on Postecoglou’s staff may be viewed as a step forward for Cochrane and he should be a name to keep an eye on.
Anthony Hudson
Another former Tottenham Hotspur coach, Hudson spent time with the Spurs reserves in 2010. The 43-year-old has been on a quite remarkable journey, becoming Newport County boss in 2011 before coaching Bahrain’s Under-23’s and then their first team. Hudson then managed New Zealand before a difficult 18-month period with Colorado Rapids. Hudson briefly managed the United States national team in 2023 but is now out of work. Hudson already knows Postecoglou having welcomed the Australian onto his podcast in 2020, which may just give him a foot in the door.
Paul Nevin
Currently Patrick Vieira’s assistant at Strasbourg, Nevin is an experienced coach who has held roles with Norwich City, West Ham United and even the Premier League. The 54-year-old is part of Gareth Southgate’s coaching staff with the England national team and a return to London may appeal to the Lewisham-born coach if Tottenham make the call. Nevin even has some history of coaching in Australia’s A-League with New Zealand Knight, which may have put him on Postecoglou’s radar.
Zsolt Low
One of the bigger names on this list, Low emerged from the Red Bull coaching scene, serving as an assistant manager at FC Liefering, Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig. The Hungarian then joined up with Thomas Tuchel at Paris Saint-Germain in 2018 before following him to Chelsea and Bayern Munich. With Tuchel now leaving Bayern, Low may be looking for another opportunity and his experience at the top level should make him an ambitious Tottenham target.
Anthony Barry
Another part of Tuchel’s Bayern staff, Barry has garnered quite the reputation as a coach. The Liverpudlian started out at Wigan Athletic before joining Chelsea in 2020, working under three different managers there. Barry followed Tuchel to Bayern in 2023 but, just like Low, may want a new challenge now Tuchel has gone. Barry also has international experience, working with the Republic of Ireland and Belgium before again working with Roberto Martinez with Portugal. Barry may only be available after Euro 2024 but his experience with Chelsea makes him a strong fit for Premier League coaching.
Patrick Kisnorbo
The only Australian on the list, Kisnorbo is out of work having been sacked by Troyes in 2023. A former Leeds United defender, Kisnorbo has strong ties to Postecoglou. Kisnorbo has known Postecoglou since the age of 14 having been with South Melbourne and has previously asked Postecoglou for advice about management. Additionally, Kisnorbo and Postecoglou were both in the City Football Group with Melbourne City and Yokohama F. Marinos respectively. There is a clear connection there and Kisnorbo may be in Postecoglou’s thoughts as he considers a coaching addition.