Following the departure of Jose Mourinho from Tottenham a week ago, online bookies, like the ones you can find on whichbookie.com, have started to take bets on who will replace him and take over from interim manager and ex Spurs player, Ryan Mason. One name that has been thrown into the mix is Nuno Santo which has led to Wolves reportedly having started their search for his replacement.
Nuno has been an integral part of transforming the Molineux club since joining in May 2017. At that time, Wolves were fighting to stay in the Championship and finished the season just seven points above the relegation zone. However, in his first season in charge, Nuno propelled the club to the top of the table achieving automatic promotion into the Premier League. It would be the clubs first stint in the top flight since 2003 but his achievements didn’t stop there. Wolves went on to claim back-to-back 7th place finishes and also earned their place in the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round – The clubs first participation in Europe since 1980.
Nuno Santo originally joined the club on a three-year deal but in September 2020 his contract was extended until the summer of 2023. Despite his contract extension, bookies have Espirito Santo as the third favourite to take over at Spurs behind Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri and RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Nuno has obviously achieved a huge amount during his time as Wolves manager having guided the club from a relegation battle in the Championship to top-half finishes in the Premier League along with stints in Europe. However, this season hasn’t been as bright for the club with the absence of Raul Jimenez through injury being a major factor in Wolves’ position in the Premier League where they currently sit 12th.
Despite his links to Spurs, Santo has responded with a reminder that he is committed to the club.
“I have a contract. When I sign a contract, there’s nothing that I can say more,”
“It’s my decision to sign a contract. So, that’s what I want to say.”
“When I make a decision like that, it’s because there’s no doubts in my mind.”
Although bookies haven’t released betting markets for who could replace Nuno Espírito Santo should he leave for Tottenham or elsewhere, there are opinions circulating.
Vítor Pereira
Pereira is an ex-amateur footballer who has been in management since 2010 when he became assistant manager to André Villas-Boas at Portuguese side, Porto. A year later, Villas-Boas moved to Chelsea and Pereira became manager of Porto where he won the Primeira Liga in two consecutive seasons.
Pereira was linked to the Everton job in 2013 but took on a managerial role in the Saudi Professional League followed by a season at Olympiacos where he won the double along with stints at Fenerbahce, 1860 Munich and most recently, Shanghai SIPG where he spent two seasons.
Rui Faria
Rui Faria is another Portuguese football manager who had worked as an assistant coach under Jose Mourinho for 17 years. His first managerial role came just in 2019 when he took over at Al-Duhail; a role which he left after just one year.
Bruno Lage
To complete the trio of potential Portuguese replacements, Bruno Lage has also been tipped to be in the running to replace Nuno. Similar to Faria, Lage has spent most of his career as an assistant coach and only recently landed his first job as a manager with Portuguese club Benfica. Lage left the club in July 2020 after equaling Benfica’s worst every series of results.
