Pochettino takes on Spurs as Levy hands Saints boss five-year deal

Tottenham have appointed Southampton’s Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager, with club chairman Daniel Levy handing the Argentine a five-year contract in north London.

Sent off as a player for his country against England in the 2002 World Cup, the 42-year-old is a 3/1 shot with Coral to steer Spurs to a major trophy in 2014/15. Pochettino is bringing his backroom staff with him from St Mary’s, and speculation will not mount that will also go back to the south coast club for some of their young stars.

“This is a club with tremendous history and prestige and I am honoured to have been given this opportunity to be its head coach,” he told the Tottenham official website. “There is an abundance of top-class talent at the club and I am looking forward to starting work with the squad.

“Tottenham Hotspur has a huge following across the world and I have great admiration for the passion the fans show for this team. We are determined to give the supporters the kind of attacking football and success that we are all looking to achieve.”

Pochettino, a former Espanyol boss, leaves Saints after just 16 months. He succeeded Nigel Adkins in January 2013 and built on consolidating the club’s Premier League status then with an eighth place finish this term.

Spurs chairman Levy, who has had 10 different managers during his tenure at the Lane, spoke highly of Pochettino. “He has a proven ability to develop each player as an individual, whilst building great team spirit and a winning mentality,” his new chief added.

Tottenham are 11/4 to make a top four finish in next season’s Premier League, while they are 50/1 to win the title.

Southampton, meanwhile, must begin the search for a new manager and are a tempting 12/1 to be relegated in 2014/15. Former Switzerland centre back Murat Yakin, who recently left FC Basel, is the early favourite ahead of fellow out of work pair Malky Mackay and Michael Laudrup.