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Ramos the perfect coach to match Tottenham’s determined ambition
Martin Jol’s job is under increasing threat - and the leading man to replace him is Juande Ramos. Matthew Day looks at the achievements of the Sevilla coach who started to learn English last year and guided the Andalucian side to another Uefa Cup triumph. Some bookmakers have ceased taking bets on the first sacking of [...]
Martin Jol’s job is under increasing threat - and the leading man to replace him is Juande Ramos. Matthew Day looks at the achievements of the Sevilla coach who started to learn English last year and guided the Andalucian side to another Uefa Cup triumph.
Some bookmakers have ceased taking bets on the first sacking of the new Premier League season as Martin Jol’s position becomes evermore precarious. Tame performances against Sunderland and Everton left Tottenham with no points after their first two matches and predictions that they would finish amongst the top four looked extremely premature. While sacking Jol after only three matches would be ludicrous and unfair, a substantial section of the Tottenham supporters believe reaching the Champions League under the current manager is an unattainable dream, and of course the lure of a continental and two-time Uefa Cup winning coach in Juande Ramos is strong.
Ramos started learning English last year – possibly in preparation for a promotion – but it was his Spanish that inspired Sevilla to the double last season. The club have won five trophies in 15 months – two Uefa Cups, one Copa del Rey, one European Super Cup and most recently the Spanish Super Cup – playing an exciting brand of attacking football. They were also in the running for the league title up until and including the final weekend, though ultimately ran out of steam, and first-team players, fighting on three fronts.
The reputation of Ramos has grown vastly since his first European success in 2006, when an unheralded Sevilla team marched to the final and subsequently dismissed English side Middlesbrough in humiliating fashion. Domestically, Ramos has engineered victories over Barcelona and Real Madrid, the strongest sides in Spain, including a 3-0 hammering of the former in the European Super Cup a year ago and more recently a 5-3 win over Real in the domestic Super Cup, ensuring a 6-3 aggregate victory.
Sevilla do not have the sheer number of household names Barcelona, Real or Valencia benefit from, so Ramos must take credit for getting the most out of a talented squad and implementing a winning mentality. His management has seen the rise of €35m-rated right-back Daniel Alves, the resurgence of Fredi Kanouté (ironically a flop at Tottenham and sold by Jol), and the emergence of exciting, gifted players like Jesús Navas, Luís Fabiano and Renato. Ramos told World Soccer recently, “The player who is not a star may be hungrier but the star guarantees you a certain number of victories because he can win games on his own. Sevilla don’t have any stars but we win the games on the basis of humility and a level of physical exertion that is very, very high.” The mix of solid performers and players with flair has proved a prefect combination, especially in the Uefa Cup where Sevilla became only the second team to defend the trophy, after Real Madrid over twenty years ago.
There’s a real conviction about everything we do. The key is convincing the players to be very ambitious
- Juande Ramos
Ramos’ team are renowned for their togetherness and spirit. The entire Sevilla contingent, players and staff, ran onto the pitch to celebrate goalkeeper Andrés Palop’s stoppage time goal which kept the club in the Uefa Cup at Shakhtar Donetsk earlier this year and in February, the players refused to continue after Ramos was hit on the head by a bottle and knocked unconscious in a heated derby with Real Betis. Largely quite and unassuming but always thoughtful, Ramos could be the solution to Tottenham’s trophy drought while also bringing Champions League football to White Hart Lane.
The supposed shortlist to replace Jol at Tottenham also includes Harry Redknapp and Marcello Lippi, but only Ramos comes with recent club glory on his CV. The Ciudad Real-born 52-year-old: “The team [Sevilla] has total confidence in our system; there’s a real conviction about everything we do. The key is convincing the players to be very ambitious. Sometimes you can lose games, but you have to keep going with it, keep striving to achieve more.”
A meeting has already taken place between Tottenham and Sevilla but tough negotiator José María del Nido, president of the club, is thought to be ready to rebuff any approach from the English club. Yet Ramos’ contract expires in a year so the North London club could wait until next summer and persuade the coach not to sign a new contract nor talk to other clubs, or alternatively a settlement could be reached because of the short time remaining on his deal. The immediate and public reaction of Tottenham fans was to back Jol and victory against Manchester United this weekend would make sacking him problematical to say the least, meaning waiting until the end of the season would be the easiest and wisest solution.
Ramos’ record in nurturing talent and winning trophies through industrious performances from hungry players and an ambitious mentality is hugely impressive and a change from Jol’s management style. The Tottenham hierarchy have reportedly lost confidence in the incumbent manager and the supporters desperately crave a new era of success. A summer of spending demonstrates the club’s determination to win silverware, but is Jol capable of delivering? If not, the chairman can’t go far wrong with the appointment of Juande Ramos, a diligent and intelligent coach who has aspirations of glory away from his current home in Sevilla. And London could be his next destination as English lessons continue in southern Spain, preparing the maestro for his next big challenge.
What do Tottenham fans think of Jol and Ramos? Share your views by leaving a comment below.
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Ramos, for all his achievements is an unknown and the premiership is much tougher than La Liga. Marting Jol has built a great team and has achieved progress and growth and deserves loyalty from the board. He is well loved and admired by players and fans and staff at the club. Sacking him would be a travesty.
I’m not sure why you say that a substantial section of Spurs fans want Jol out. I’d say only a tiny, tiny minority do - but that minority clearly includes the Board, so it looks as if his time is up.
Jol has done a wonderful job for us, and if given time I am quite sure he would emulate Ramos’ achievements in terms of silverware. Let’s hope Sr. Ramos has been paying attention in his English classes.
As a lifelong supporter who was their during the glory years, I note the comments of other fans who have got use to mediocrity. I like Martin Jol as a person but sadly do not believe he has the experience to truly challenge for the title. I am therefore enormously encouraged by the action (if true) of the board in their determination to bring real success back to WHL.
Let BMJ stay for 07/08.
He’s done nothing to deserve the rubbish being aimed at him at present - 3 games do not a season nor a failure make.
Whilst Ramos may have the credentials the chance of him being able to craft the Spurs players into the Champions League inside 8 months is too slim. Let BMJ have at least one more crack of the whip then decide. In the meantime, leave him be and lets just see what happens.
I think it is absolutely shocking the way Jol has been treated.
I love Martin Jol, but, equally, I was frustrated to say the least with the way we sat back for the last 10 mins at Sunderland, and, did I ever beleive that Martin Jol would be the man to crack the top 4? Not really. I thought maybe Martin could win us the Coca Cola Cup, if that still what its called, and I rather fancied him to take us on a decent run in the UEFA Cup too. Truth, in my opinion, is that we were never defensively sound under Jol. 60odd goals conceded last season, only 3 clean sheets in the previous 33, not really good enough to crack the top 4. Arguablly, signing Kaboul and Bale and the likely return of King as well as keeping hold of Chimbonda may well have improved all of that. But by the looks of things, the board, with all of there wisdom have lost confidence and are looking for swift progress, possibly to cash in on Spurs - Who knows?? This club is a rollercoaster ride as we all know.
Last thing though, I do think Ramos would be capable of cracking the top 4 with our squad, I just hope the board have done the deal properly before letting Jol go. I cant see how they can do anything other than this to take us forward now. Good Luck and thanks Martin Jol
Absolutely ridiculous to even suggest that Martin Jo, should be sacked, unbeleivable. This would be the worst decision the current board have made, even beyond appointing Glen Hoddle. Everyone knows that great teams are built on stability of management. You only have to look ManUtd and Arsenal to see that success depends on it (and obviously a good dose of good fortune along the way). If anything I think that the board should stand down or at the very least publicly declare their support for MJ. I know most of this is press twisting and a storm in a tea cup but how unsettling this could be for the team remains to be seen. If they came out now and declared their support now and in the future then this will die down instantly. What were they thinking about when they agreed to meet with Ramos. Naive, short sighted and down right obscene if he goes.
Rant end!
I think it is a disgrace the way Martin Jol is being treated. Tottenham have been held back over the last 15 years through repeated changes of Managers. The team is moving in the right direction despite the Sunderland and Everton results.
Only Spurs can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. It is insane to change what is been two seasons of real growth. The selling of Carrick cost us 4th last season. This was a decision by Levy so where is the accountability. commoli is a Levy yes man where is a decent midfielder who can compete with Lampard Gerrard etc? or a left sided midfielder we have needed since Ginola? Answer probabaly bought by Man City who were far shrewder than Commoli. So lets not speak of the Emperors new clothes and lets blame Jol as he is a decent human being and also a good scapegoat. If the board have lost confidence in Jol I have lost confidence in them. Comolli is nowhere near Arneson and Levy is Judas. They have my contempt.
My intial response was emotional; like most Spurs fans I have a soft spot for Martin Jol. He has steadied the club and given the team back a measure of self-respect.
However, like many others, I have always harboured a nagging doubt about his tactical nous. We’ve all seem him make poor substitutions, and some of his line-ups are simply bizarre. It’s also hard to shake off the rumours that he has a handful of favourites who will always make the team. Certainly it seems that Keane is undroppable, and I’m really not sure why he’s currently the captain, apart from seniority.
When we played Sevilla last year I was really impressed by their speed, movement and technical ability, and also by their committment.
Ramos’s record speaks for itself, the man is a winner.
And so, though it’s sad and not particularly loyal, I would prefer Ramos to Jol. I’m certain that with Ramos as coach we could win the Premiership within two years. And the CL shortly after. That said, it’s by no means certain that we can land the Spaniard in the first place.
Like others who will comment on here, I just hope the Spurs board don’t end up losing both managers. That would put us three years back.
Oh, and one final thing.
Harry Redknapp will never ever win a trophy. The rumours going around about him becoming the next Spurs coach have to be a joke.
“….a substantial section of the Tottenham supporters believe reaching the Champions League under the current manager is an unattainable dream” - What a load of rubbish, where is your proof?
You are just a typical lying journo who believes that they can make things up and it’s all true.
FYI I am a season ticket holder and all the fans around me are united in our support for Jol.
You don’t finish in the top 4 by struggling against the likes of Sunderland, Everton and the like. Finishing 5th in consecutive seasons appear good on paper but analyse the results over the last two seasons - how many times were we outplayed (even at home) but got lucky? Having spent all the money and the having to see the likes of Anthony Gardner take the field is such a big turn off! Mention of Kanoute was interesting - Jol discards him and Ramos make him into a hot shot in the Primera Liga! Who is a better coach, or is it a useless assistant that Jol has under his wings?
we need jol out and someone with champion league experience jol had his chance to spent sum big money ok he did spent it but not in the right way becuase he didnt sign a left winger but jol did do well to get bent and bale ill give him that
After reading this rubbish one could assume that Ramos has such a great record. Sure the last two years have been successful but unless I’m missing something hasn’t his coaching/managerial career spanned 20 years? 2 out of 20 aint that great. On what basis do you assert that a substantial percentage of Spurs fans would like Jol replaced. Do you go to WHL and hear the overwhelming support for Jol. Can you please substantiate the bais for your assertion. Seems like selective facts chosen to support a poor article. People like you wioll undermine a decent manager for a cheap article. Reocmmend intelligent fans give this rubbish a miss. Bye for good.
Jol out? ludicrous! This is the same mentality as that applied by the now defunct Freddy Shepherd when he sacked SIR Bobby Robson from Newcastle. Newcastle did no better under any other manager since.
A respectable man comes in, takes over part-way through a season, takes Spurs to two 5th place finishes -despite Levy/Commoli selling Michael Carrick under his nose, takes Spurs to quarter final/semi-final in 3 competitions in same season, gets Fans excited/revved up with expectation, persuades Berbatov to join and excite the premiership….gains respect from Ferguson/Muorinho/Wenger and pundits, is stood above title-winners Manchester United after 3 games played…..and STUPID, SHORT-SIGHTED/VINDICTIVE persons want to sack him?
Who are they themselves? What have they achieved that actually merits “top-class” success stories. Levy/ENIC/Commolli - names that are synonomous with football greatness or success of the highest standard? Maybe they are the ones who should be ousted/removed -not given a chance.
Let Jol prove his worth. Don’t sell the lynchpin of his side (Carrick is an example)….or give him ultimatums. You go out there and get the players he NEEDS and WANTS. (Petrov - we lost him because of Jol or was it Commolli/Levy botched up job -yet again?) Frank Arnsen may be the shrewdest man of all- when he realised he could not work under such a backstabbing, short-sighted bunch of buffoons at Spurs.
Where is the logic?
Ridiculous situation….brought on by Spurs so called “Hierarchy” yet again!
Juande Ramos definitely is a high calibre prospect, his record speaks for itself in two years ay Sevilla.
In contrast Martin Jol seems quite clueless at times tactically and very negative. One of the most frustrating things for me as a Spurs fan during Jols reign is that when Spurs lead in games, he tends to try to ’shut shop’ and defend narrow leads. Well any fan can see Spurs are highly effective attacking other teams and we need to continue this to sew up results, its also in the tradition of the club to play attractive football. I view every Tottenham game I can, one of the most frustrating things is watching Malbranque play, quite frankly he is not of Premier League standard, most of the time its like playing with a man short. His tackling, passing and marking are inferior and the hard thing to watch is the fact he does nothing all game and pops up to score the odd game and jol rewards him with nother ten game run in the side. I also firmly believe the UEFA Cup is a waste of time for us, by playing many games in this competition, it doesnt bring us anywhere nearer Chmpions League qualification. It leaves our players fatigued and injure and quite often we are playing sub standard opposition, I would rather our players were fresh and concentrating on a high league position. UEFA qualification is nothing to celebrate.
There is no doubt Spurs have achieved under Jol, finishing fifth in two consecutive seasons, but I feel its as far as he can take us.
Champions League qualification is essential for the club. We would receive a huge subsidy from qualification and we would also have the opportunity to attract the worlds top players. Right now these players will not entertain a club without football on the big stage. Once we qualify, the players we can bring in will allow us to compete for the Premier League and the Champions League, allowing us to compete as one of the worlds top clubs.
So if I were the chairman, I would compensate Jol, thank him for his service and then part company. Juande Ramos would be a top choice, but if not him, there are planty of top coaches who would identify the opportunity Tottenham are providing. Many managers on the continent would love to manage in the Premier League, but they have no chnace of an opportunity at Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Utd or Chelsea. Spurs are the next best choice, we have money to spend, huge ambition and a large fan base.
But speed is of the essence, with Man Utd on Sunday, we are running out of time, nobody wants to see another write off this season.