Dutch legend and Ajax coach Frank de Boer was approached regarding the Spurs job during Tim Sherwood's reign as White Hart Lane boss. In fact, it was the links to de Boer that led to Sherwood lashing out against his own club in the press - a move that ultimately did him no favours with regards to his sacking. De Boer endeared himself to Spurs fans in the press when talking about his potential appointment, describing the club as "sleeping giants" and claiming he would add to the club if he joined. He said:
Spurs have let Ajax know they will eventually talk to me at the end of the season. I'm going to listen and talk. Then Ill make my feelings known. After the last league game Ill think about it. Ill talk to them and listen to what they have to say. I would like to add something to a club like Brendan Rodgers did at Liverpool. I see a perspective at Tottenham Hotspur, just as Liverpool and Newcastle United sometimes are, they are sleeping giants.
Ultimately, it came down to de Boer and Pochettino for the role and it would be the Argentine who came out with the job.
