TOTTENHAM'S FALSE DAWNS

ROBERT J WILSON EXAMINES THE FAILURE OF DANIEL LEVY'S SPURS TO BECOME WINNERS.

BACK in October 2007, Tottenham Hotspur’s search for a new manager led them to Juande Ramos.

At the time, it was a major coup for the north London club with chairman Daniel Levy prepared to make the Spaniard the highest-paid manager in the Premier League at £6.5m per year.

The serial winner (and future Spurs boss) Jose Mourinho had been reportedly earning £10m at Chelsea, but he had left Stamford Bridge by ‘mutual consent’ just weeks before Ramos’ appointment.

Ramos arrived with an impressive CV after a consistent two and a bit seasons at Sevilla. He guided the club to two UEFA Cup victories and a European Super Cup success after destroying compatriots Barcelona 3-0 in the final.

A Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup followed in the second season, as well as a third-place finish in La Liga, before Ramos shocked everyone by packing his bags for London.

Ramos was hot property and after dispatching the popular Martin Jol in a rather unsavoury fashion, Levy needed to convince a frustrated fan base.

In his first season in charge at White Hart Lane, Ramos lived up to his billing. Four months after his appointment, he led the club to League Cup success at Wembley. A Jonathan Woodgate header just minutes into extra-time gave Tottenham a 2-1 win over a Chelsea side now commanded by Avram Grant.

If Mourinho had remained in charge, who knows if the outcome would have been different, but Ramos had landed the club their first major trophy in nine years.

In his sixth season in control, Levy had finally tasted success on the pitch for the first time. If he gets the opportunity to taste it again remains to be seen.