But many are underwhelmed by the Portuguese after his ill fated spell at Stamford Bridge. Villas Boas left under a cloud, with many in the media critical of the way he handled the Chelsea squad.
Much of this was probably unfair, with Villas Boas given a brief he stuck to, and egos in the squad used to the owner sacking managers every five minutes believing he would do so again – rightly, it seemed. Villas Boas obviously did not think that was the case.
Either way, Villas Boas had started important work at Chelsea, changing a style and a team, but they opted to delay the rebuilding process a year. At Tottenham, he will join club, unfairly, in some people’s eyes, denied a Champions League spot by Chelsea’s dramatic win over Bayern Munich in May.
But Villas Boas will join a team suited to what he will want to do. Villas Boas wants his teams to attack with style, playing a pressing, high line and a dynamic game about movement and using width. In Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon, he has two quick, technical wide players who will be perfect for his system. They have good movement, and their pace will help create space in the centre that Villas Boas’ game can thrive in.
They also have quick defenders, in Benoit Assou Ekotto, Kyle Walker and Jan Vertonghen (when he signs), who will suit a high defensive line. The big other questions now are over Luka Modric’s future and getting a new striker. Modric seems set to leave, but Gylfi Sigurdsson is set to take his place.
There is little point trying to replace Modric directly though, and Tottenham will have to find another player to base their game around. But there are not many Modrics. It is also seems that Emmanuel Adebayor won’t be with them next season, though if Spurs can sign him that could be a good signing. But the Portuguese will now be looking to find the right man to play as the central attacker in a fluid 4-3-3.
Whomever he chooses, Tottenham look set to have a manager who suits them, and who has a long term vision that perhaps Harry Redknapp did not. His firing is an opportunity for Spurs, to build on his excellent work and take the next step up. There are question marks over Villas Boas, but he has earned and deserves the chance to show he can do precisely that for the Londoners.
