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LONDON -- Tottenham hired Mauricio Pochettino as the clubs new manager on a five-year contract on Tuesday, with the former Argentina defender making the move from fellow Premier League side Southampton. Ziggy Ansah Jersey . Pochettino replaced Tim Sherwood, who was fired on May 13 after just five months in the job following Tottenhams sixth-place finish in the league. The 42-year-old Pochettino developed a strong reputation for playing a positive, attacking brand of football in his 18 months at Southampton, which he joined from Spanish side Espanyol when he replaced Nigel Adkins. Southampton finished eighth in the standings last season, with its highest Premier League points haul of 56. "This is a club with tremendous history and prestige and I am honoured to have been given this opportunity to be its head coach," Pochettino said. "There is an abundance of top-class talent at the club and I am looking forward to starting work with the squad. We are determined to give the supporters the kind of attacking football and success that we are all looking to achieve." Pochettino is the eighth permanent manager to be appointed in Spurs chairman Daniel Levys 13 years at the club. "In Mauricio I believe we have a head coach who, with his high energy, attacking football, will embrace the style of play we associate with our club," Levy said in a statement. "He has a proven ability to develop each player as an individual, whilst building great team spirit and a winning mentality. We have a talented squad that Mauricio is excited to be coaching next season." Tottenham aspires to qualify for the Champions League again, having played one season alongside Europes elite in 2010-11. Following the sale of winger Gareth Bale to Real Madrid for 100 million euros (then $132 million), the North-London club went through a chaotic season that has featured defeats of 6-0 and 5-1 to Manchester City, 5-0 at home to Liverpool and a change of manager when Andre Villas-Boas was replaced by Sherwood. Pochettinos arrival could also help relaunch the career of forward Erik Lamela, who has struggled to adapt to the Premier League and was hampered by a series of injuries since joining the club for an estimated 30 million pounds ($50.41 million) fee. Although he was beaten twice by Sherwood last season, the former Espanyol boss led Southampton to its highest-ever Premier League finish. He will keep working with his own staff, with assistant coach Jesus Perez, first team coach Miguel DAgostino and goalkeeper coach Toni Jimenez all following him to White Hart Lane. Southampton said it has begun its search for a "high-calibre" manager, with Sherwood reportedly an option to replace Pochettino alongside the likes of Malky Mackay, Steve McClaren, Murat Yakin and Michael Laudrup. "The club has been on a constant path of growth since the arrival of (the late owner) Markus Liebherr in 2009," Saints chairman Ralph Krueger said. "This growth took place before Mauricio came, it continued strongly under his leadership, and it will continue into the next season." Joique Bell Jersey . But in the aftermath a 115-91 pounding of the Utah Jazz on Saturday night, Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey insisted it was still invaluable for evaluating the depth of his team early in the season. Matthew Stafford Jersey . The Stars were up 3-1 in the third. Stars and Jets will meet at the MTS Centre Sunday night (TSN Jets, TSN 1290) in what is a must win for the Jets. The Jets and Stars will meet in Dallas later this month, the Stars have two games in hand.CLEVELAND -- Cavaliers All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving has been cleared to return to practice after missing eight games with a biceps injury. Irving strained his left biceps on March 16 against the Clippers. He can resume full contact immediately, but the Cavs said his status for important games this week at Orlando and Atlanta has not been determined. Cleveland is 4-4 since its leading scorer was injjured. Glover Quin Jersey. The Cavs, who enter the week just 2 1/2 games behind Atlanta for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, will likely ease Irving back into the lineup. Also, an MRI on forward Anderson Varejaos shoulder revealed a sprained AC joint. The 6-foot-11 Varejao will not play Wednesday against the Magic and the team said his status beyond that will be updated later. ' ' ' |
