Mauricio Pochettino sacked by Tottenham – with Jose Mourinho in talks to replace him

Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has been sacked after five years in charge – with Jose Mourinho in talks to replace him.

In a statement, the Premier League club said Pochettino and three members of his coaching team “have been relieved of their duties” following “extremely disappointing” recent results.

Spurs have won just five matches this season and currently lie 14th in the table.

Representatives of former Manchester United and Chelsea manager Mourinho are in negotiations with Tottenham about him replacing Pochettino, Sky Sports News understands.

Announcing Pochettino’s sacking, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said: “We were extremely reluctant to make this change and it is not a decision the board has taken lightly, nor in haste.

“Regrettably domestic results at the end of last season and beginning of this season have been extremely disappointing.

“It falls to the board to make the difficult decisions – this one made more so given the many memorable moments we have had with Mauricio and his coaching staff – but we do so in the club’s best interests.”

Levy said Pochettino “will always be part of our history” after guiding Spurs to their first Champions League final last season, which they lost to Liverpool.

Levy added: “I have the utmost admiration for the manner in which he dealt with the difficult times away from a home ground whilst we built the new stadium and for the warmth and positivity he brought to us.

“I should like to thank him and his coaching staff for all they have contributed. They will always be welcome here.”

Pochettino’s sacking will reignite speculation about his future after the Argentine was previously linked to the manager jobs at Manchester United and Real Madrid.

It will also raise questions about the futures of some of Spurs’ star players, including England captain Harry Kane, who have lauded Pochettino during his time at the club.

After leaving Southampton for the Spurs job, Pochettino guided Tottenham to a League Cup final and secured a runners-up spot and two third-placed finishes in the Premier League.

But since a 3-1 win over Leicester in February, Spurs have won just six of their 24 Premier League matches.

This season they were knocked out the League Cup by League Two side Colchester and were hammered 7-2 at home by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Former Spurs and England striker Gary Lineker said Pochettino “helped the club to punch massively above their weight for years”.

“Good luck with finding a better replacement… ain’t gonna happen,” he tweeted.

Former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher backed Pochettino to make a swift return to the Premier League.

He tweeted: “I said a few weeks ago I felt this project had ran its course, I thought there would be a change at the end of the season with either the manager or players changing.

“Pochettino has been a brilliant manager for Spurs & will be back in the PL sooner rather than later!”

(c) Sky News 2019: Mauricio Pochettino sacked by Tottenham – with Jose Mourinho in talks to replace him