If Mauricio Pochettino leaves Tottenham Hotspur, who could be the contenders to replace him?

Mauricio Pochettino's position at Tottenham is approaching untenable, with both parties seemingly bound to go their separate ways before the end of the season. 

Pochettino has elevated Tottenham from a club with their face pressed against the glass of Europe's elite into Champions League regulars, on an inferior transfer budget and wage bill to their closest rivals.

Whether Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy decides to reluctantly pull the trigger or Pochettino walks away, it seems only a matter of time before Spurs begin searching for a new head coach for the first time since 2014.

So who could they target, what would they bring to the job and how realistic are they as options?

Jose Mourinho: Evs

Why the interest?

Out of work managers are always the first port of call when a club decides to part ways with their coach in the middle of the season, and Mourinho has been touting his wares all over town. His list of honours does not require introduction and he might find this mature Tottenham squad to his liking. One theory about their deterioration under Pochettino is that he has struggled to adapt to an ageing team - with diminished pressing numbers regularly cited - but Mourinho's more reactive approach to matches might suit a Spurs side with some creaking legs.

Mourinho showed an interest in Eric Dier and Toby Alderweireld while Manchester United manager and has always coveted a proven, physical goalscorer capable of leading the line on his own - Harry Kane would be the best centre forward he has worked with since prime Diego Costa. For those Tottenham fans desperate for silverware, Mourinho tends to hoover up domestic cups.

With demotion to the Europa League likely next season, Levy might also be attracted to the boost in status Mourinho offers any team he manages (superficially, perhaps). Tottenham's new stadium is less than a year old and their position within European football's high society is by no means assured. Games in a half empty stadium against BATE Borisov with say, Eddie Howe in the dugout, might feel like a big step backwards. Mourinho at least ensures eyeballs remain on the club, which is important when sponsorship deals are renewed and executive boxes sold.

Notes of caution

Mourinho failed to build a team capable of challenging for the Premier League at Man Utd despite spending £391.5 million and has not enjoyed a truly successful league season since the 2014-15 campaign at Chelsea. He might regard Tottenham's recruitment and sporting structures as superior to United's, but it would be a similar job at a club without the financial advantages.

Mourinho's time at Old Trafford was not just about league points and balance sheets, however: it was a bloodless failure of vision and philosophy, with Mourinho unable to imprint coherent attacking patterns and avenues to chance creation after more than two years at the club. Offensive talent such as Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford either tuned out or were left to waste.

Since the bitter end to his time at Real Madrid there have been concerns about Mourinho's man management, with his final months at Chelsea and United nothing less than a scorched earth approach. His salary demands are enormous which makes it very expensive to dispose of him when the well-worn Mourinho script plays out in season three. Potential for political conflict with Levy is all too obvious.

Realism rating

7/10: Mourinho would take the job like a shot, so it has to score quite highly even if he looks a bad fit. Spurs are not replete with options so could get desperate. The pantomime villainy in his first north London derby would be something to behold.

Carlo Ancelotti: 11/2

Why the interest?

European football's safest pair of managerial hands, Ancelotti soothes irritated dressing rooms and will win the instant respect of Tottenham's senior players. His Double-winning Chelsea team are perhaps underrated as an attacking force, and Ancelotti's teams strike a nice balance between self-expression while making slight tactical adjustments from game to game.

Reports suggest Ancelotti put himself forward for the Arsenal job when Arsene Wenger departed in 2018 only to be knocked back: might he relish the chance to make them rue that decision at their closest rivals? Tottenham might need to win the Champions League to qualify for the competition next season, an unlikely prospect, but who better than the man who has won it three times at two different clubs?

Tottenham's squad is self-evidently better than their league position, and in a calmer atmosphere with the shackles off Ancelotti might benefit from a short-team bounce.

Notes of caution

The only reason there is a slight possibility of prising him from Napoli is that they are adrift of the Champions League places in Serie A with fans disgruntled - sound familiar?

There is a feeling that the former Milan manager has fallen behind the cutting edge of coaching, with his more relaxed, laissez-faire style less suited to a new generation of players who demand prescriptive instruction and more attention to detail. By the end of this season a decade will have passed since he lifted the Premier League title. Certainly not a long-term solution.

Realism rating

7/10: Much depends on Ancelotti's future at Napoli. Were he sacked, he would instantly become the most attractive available candidate and a much better bet than Mourinho to ferry Spurs to their next phase.

Brendan Rodgers: 13/2

Why the interest?

The outstanding domestic candidate and no longer a figure of ridicule. Rodgers has always been a talented coach, particularly of young attacking players, but there were doubts about his management skills and eye for a player in the transfer market. Most Premier League clubs now delegate this job to a collegiate recruitment team or sporting director, and Rodgers could be the beneficiary from this change in culture.

Has transformed Leicester City into likely Champions League qualifiers within six months, taking advantage of Tottenham's weaknesses in the process, and has done so in a style distinct from their 2015/16 title-winners. Spurs would retain a similar identity to under Pochettino, with Rodgers favouring youth, energy and aggressive pressing, although perhaps more emphasis on possession. Would certainly get Spurs back in the hunt for a top-four finish by next season at the latest.

Notes of caution

Rodgers suffered a degree of reputational damage for his decision to walk out on Celtic when on course to win a third domestic in succession. Could he really walk away from Leicester in similarly hasty fashion, especially when they are in such a strong position?

Managing Tottenham would come with higher expectations than Leicester, although Rodgers does now have the experience of leading a heavily-scrutinised club to success at Celtic. Rodgers has inherited an excellent set of defensive personnel at Leicester while Tottenham's needs a rebuild. Some observers believe building his own defence might be Rodgers' blind spot.

Realism rating

5/10: Ticks all of the boxes, but would Spurs be able to get him out of Leicester so soon into his tenure? A year to 18 months too soon.

Eddie Howe: 11/1

Why the interest?

To compete with the rest of the Premier League's 'Big Six', Tottenham need to cut their cloth accordingly and squeeze a lot from not very much. Pochettino has been a master of that until very recently, and so too has Eddie Howe at Bournemouth. Howe has achieved three promotions during two spells at Bournemouth and kept them in the Premier League since their debut season 2015-16, with finishes of 16th, 9th, 12th and 14th.

Bournemouth's style of play has always caught the eye, with Howe committed to playing out from the back with many of the same defenders who got him out of the Championship, mixing this possession-based approach with fast counter-attacking. It would be fascinating to see what he could achieve with greater riches at his disposal.

Notes of caution

Howe's spell at Burnley was underwhelming, prompting worries that there is a compatibility between him and Bournemouth that cannot be recreated elsewhere.

Although Bournemouth have showed signs of tightening up this season, they conceded 70 Premier League goals last year and have often been a touch flaky away from home since their promotion. Would this be cured by better individual defenders or is it a feature of Howe's coaching, not a bug?

Howe is also into his fifth season as a Premier League manager. Given the speed at which coaching ideas evolve and the short shelf-life of coaches before they go stale at clubs, does he quite have the same edge? Bournemouth have not been run on a shoe-string in recent seasons either - big money signings like Jefferson Lerma and Jordan Ibe look profligate.

Realism rating

5/10: Essentially the same profile as Rodgers, but the Leicester man has moved decisively ahead of him. One feels Spurs will go for a bigger name when push comes to shove.

Massimiliano Allegri: 11/1

Why the interest?

A manger of stature and authority who has been learning English in anticipation of his next job. Allegri led Juventus to two Champions League finals while maintaining their stranglehold on Serie A, and is a versatile coach adept at pivoting towards the strengths of his players. Has the gravitas to attract talent and, more importantly, persuade many of Tottenham's best players to stay. Already has experience of succeeding a much-loved manager (Antonio Conte) and won over the Juve fans who were unhappy with his appointment after his time at Milan.

Notes of caution

Allegri's job at Juventus was to fine-tune and perfect a group of experienced, hard-nosed winners. That is not an easy job - very few managers in world football are capable of it, in fact - but it is very different from coaching Tottenham (or Arsenal or Manchester United at present).

Spurs appear to be re-arming for a new project with Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen and Alderweireld likely to leave on Bosmans. Does Allegri want to paint on a blank canvas or add the finishing touches elsewhere? Allegri might also want greater control than Levy will afford him.

Realism rating

6/10: Out of work with an impeccable CV, but is he quite right for Tottenham in their present state?

Erik Ten Hag: 14/1

Why the interest?

A manager touched by Pep Guardiola's influence after managing Bayern Munich's second team while the Man City coach was in Bavaria. Led Utrecht to fifth and fourth in the Eredivisie during his first two seasons as a manager before taking Ajax to the Champions League semi-finals last season. As Tottenham fans will remember, they were seconds away from reaching the final. Ajax took Real Madrid and Juventus apart on their own patch during that run, with their distinctive and ultra-creative attacking style winning hearts and minds as well as marking Ten Hag out as a man of great promise (not to be confused with Quincy Promes).

Notes of caution

That Ajax team was built upon two generational talents in Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie De Jong, who have since joined Juventus and Barcelona. Suffice to say, there are no replicas coming through at Tottenham and it remains to be seen how much Ten Hag's reputation was enhanced by those two pillars. Already this season, Ajax have lost at home to an inexperienced Chelsea team in the Champions League but have won 11 of 13 in the league.

Realism rating

3/10: Highly unlikely to leave Ajax mid-season.

Julian Nagelsmann: 16/1

Why the interest?

Tipped for greatness and hailed as a potential genius since he began his Bundesliga coaching career at 28, Nagelsmann is probably the most exciting name on this list. Led Hoffenheim away from relegation trouble in his first season and qualified for the Champions League in his second. Coaches a dynamic, energetic style based on fast recoveries of possession - his ceiling really could be anything.

Joined Red Bull Leipzig this summer and they are second in the Bundesliga and the division's joint-top scorers. Tottenham had success with Pochettino by appointing a young manager on the up, and Nagelsmann would be in the same mould.

Notes of caution

Apart from the risks that every appointment brings - not adapting to a new country, unable to connect with the players and so on - there are not many arguments against Nagelsmann. He looks a great fit for Tottenham or Arsenal.

Realism rating

3/10: Highly unlikely just now. Nagelsmann is in the first of a four-year contract at RB Leipzig and are Bayern Munich grooming him to be their next coach? It would be surprising if they were not.

Gareth Southgate: 20/1

Why the interest?

Southgate has a close relationship with several Tottenham players from his time as England manager, and they might even put a good word in for him should the vacancy become official. The reputation of the national team was on the floor when he took over, but Southgate has skilfully shifted the squad to a younger, likeable dynamic. Speaks well publicly on a number of social and moral issues, and any club would be pleased to have him as a spokesman.

Did lead England to their first World Cup semi-final since 1990 last summer, and England are a far better watch under Southgate, no longer playing in straight lines and rigid systems.

Notes of caution

Southgate's in-game management is questionable, and he must surely regret not switching to a back four in the semi-final against Croatia when it was clear England were being out-numbered down both flanks. This kind of weakness will be exposed at club level, and there is still not enough evidence of Southgate making England more than the sum of their parts or masterminding a victory over a superior team. The victory in Spain in the Nations League was a highlight, but aside from that result England have more or less beaten teams you would expect them to beat. It's just that we are all in a better mood about it.

Realism rating

2/10:  Will surely lead England into next summer's European Championships and maybe the 2022 World Cup if next summer is a success.