Tottenham’s long search for a new boss is finally over after they appointed Nuno Espirito Santo.
It has been 72 days since they sacked Jose Mourinho on April 19 and a long and – at times chaotic – recruitment process has followed.
But the former Wolves boss has now got the job, signing a two-year deal at the north London club.
Nuno left Molineux at the end of last season and stays in the Premier League after incoming football managing director Fabio Paratici persuaded chairman Daniel Levy to give him the job.
Levy had some misgivings about the Portuguese’s style of play at Wolves, having been so vocal about the need for a new manager to play “attacking” football, but is now convinced.
Levy said on the club’s official website: “First of all, I’d like to welcome Nuno to the club. We should like to thank our supporters for all their patience throughout this process.
“I’ve spoken already about the need to revert back to our core DNA of playing attacking, entertaining football and Fabio and I believe Nuno is the man who can take our talented group of players, embrace our young players coming through and build something special.”
Nuno will take the start of pre-season training on Monday, where players not involved in international football this summer will return to Hotspur Way.
He said: “When you have a squad with quality and talent, we want to make the fans proud and enjoy.
“It’s an enormous pleasure and honour (to be here), there’s joy and I’m happy and looking forward to starting work. We don’t have any days to lose and we must start working immediately as pre-season starts in a few days.”
Paratici, who officially starts his job on Thursday after leaving Juventus in May, has been heavily involved in the recruitment process and put forward Nuno based on his achievements at Wolves and previously Valencia.
Paratici said: “The brief for this appointment has always been clear, we wanted a head coach that can instil all the values that are important to this football club.
“You only have to look at Nuno’s time at Wolves to see his ability to take a group of players and implement an adaptive style that brings success and allows players to develop and thrive.
“We are all looking forward to getting started in what we hope will be a successful time with the club.”
His appointment brings to an end a frenetic – and at times farcical – search for Mourinho’s successor.
