According to Gianluigi Longari, Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on Paulo Fonseca. The former AS Roma manager has emerged as a potential alternative for top target Antonio Conte, as the Lilywhites continue their search for a new manager this summer. It is believed that Fonseca will be a cost-effective alternative to Conte, who is expected to demand not just a hefty contract but also force Daniel Levy to spend big in the market.
Paulo Fonseca: Managerial Profile
Paulo Fonseca is regarded as one of the best Portuguese coaches around, alongside the likes of Jose Mourinho and Fernando Santos. The 48-year-old is primarily known for his spell at Shakhtar Donetsk from 2016 to 2019.
Fonseca helped Shakhtar win three back to back Ukrainian titles before being hired by Roma in 2019. He was brought in after a disappointing 2018/19 campaign that saw the Giallorossi finish out of the top four, resulting in the departure of Eusebio Di Francesco.
However, Roma could not get into the top four in any of Fonseca’s two seasons in Italy, notably achieving a seventh-placed finish in the recently concluded 2020/21 campaign. The Portuguese tactician has not only struggled with injury issues but also poor sporting decisions, including the departure of Patrik Schick.
What Does He Bring To The Table?
Tactically Paulo Fonseca is best known for his 3-4-2-1 formation, although he is not averse to a back-four. He likes his fullbacks to provide width to the table, but they also tend to move centrally to create overloads in the middle of the park. It allows his team more assurance in possession, thanks to the numerical superiority in midfield.
In terms of wide movements, his wingers generally tend to cut inside, positioning themselves in half-spaces that offers the midfielders additional passing options in the final third.
Is He A Good Option For Tottenham?
Fonseca’s fluid, attacking style of football is a welcome change from Jose Mourinho’s defence-oriented tactics and a rather questionable mindset towards defending a lead. The former AS Roma manager is also flexible when it comes to his market activity and work around almost any player if they are versatile enough.
These qualities could be ideal for a Tottenham side in the midst of a financial calamity and the need for an immediate rebuild, especially as they prepare for life without Harry Kane. Paulo Fonseca, therefore, is indeed a solid option for the Lilywhites this summer.
