Former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor has claimed that the first manager to leave their position this season will be Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Speaking to the Sack Race, the Sky Sports pundit made the left-field prediction that the first Premier League manager to depart will be Spurs’ Argentine coach, who guided the north London side to their first Champions League final in their history last season.
Mellor said: “I think it could be someone less obvious, like Mauricio Pochettino. Look at Real Madrid with Zinedine Zidane, there’s a bit of unrest there, could he leave?
“If a club like Real Madrid are looking for a top replacement, Pochettino would be a really strong candidate. I think he’s done an incredible job at Spurs, taking them to the Champions League final, and consistently finishing in the top-four. Who’s going to go first? It could well be the least expected one.”
Pochettino was heavily linked with a move to Los Blancos in 2018 after Zidane announced his departure from the La Liga side following a third consecutive Champions League win, with the likes of The Guardian reporting that Real Madrid had to Spurs boss high up on their list of managerial targets.
The Argentine manager criticised the Tottenham board in pre-season over the lack of impact he has over transfer decisions at the club, with Pochettino saying via BBC Sport: “I know nothing about the situation of my players. “Sell, buy players, sign contract, not sign contract – I think it is not in my hands, it’s in the club’s hands and Daniel Levy.
“The club needs to change my title and description. Of course, I am the boss deciding the strategic play, but in another area, I don’t know. Today, I feel like I am the coach.”