Pochettino to be Tottenham's Sir Alex Ferguson? Levy hoping Argentine oversees Spurs dynasty

Mauricio Pochettino has been challenged to become “the Sir Alex Ferguson of Tottenham Hotspur” by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.

The Argentine is into his fourth season at the helm in north London, having traded Southampton for their Premier League rivals in the summer of 2014.

Spurs 8/1 to keep clean sheet in Madrid

In that time, Pochettino has forced Spurs into title contention and made them a staple part of the battle for top-four finishes and Champions League football.

He committed to a new contract in 2016, taking him through to 2021, with it now up to him to deliver tangible reward and build a dynasty similar to that overseen by an iconic figure at Manchester United.

Levy wrote in a column for the Daily Mail:  “I have always said to him that I want him to be a partner, that when he signed a contract for five years — which was a massive commitment for the club — it was on the basis that we were really going to commit to each other.

“I want Mauricio to be the Sir Alex Ferguson of Tottenham Hotspur and he has the most fantastic opportunity to be that. I have confidence that he can do it. We’re so aligned in where we want to be.”

Levy added on the challenges he faces in keeping a highly-rated coach at Spurs:  “I’d be surprised if there wasn’t interest in Mauricio from other clubs because it means we are doing well.

“He’s never given me any indication that he’d like to leave. He loves the project and he once sent me a picture of Bill Nicholson — our most famous manager from years ago — holding the fronts of the gates of the stadium.

“They are very historic gates and we’re keeping them at the new stadium. I replied, ‘One day it is going to be you,’ because that really is what I aspire to. I would love nothing more than Mauricio still to be our manager in 10 to 15 years’ time.

“To really build success you need time, longevity. It’s easy to go and become a manager at Real Madrid, for instance. It’s a fantastic club, don’t get me wrong, but winning at Tottenham Hotspur is far greater than winning at Real Madrid — and he agrees.

“Mauricio wants this sense of achievement, this recognition, to be the main guy. And at this club, he can be the main guy. At some other clubs, the president is the main guy but that’s not how it is here. I’m so low key, I want him to be the main guy.”

Spurs sit third in the Premier League table at present, with a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth in their latest outing keeping them within five points of leaders Manchester City.