Jol Laid The Foundations For Spurs Success

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http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2011/11/05/2743876/a-blast-from-the-past-how-martin-jol-strived-to-take



A blast from the past: How Martin Jol strived to take Tottenham into the Champions League & why his departure helped make it happen


The current Fulham boss faces his former employers on Sunday for the first time since his controversial sacking in October 2007, with Spurs having evolved into a genuine force

By Richard Parry

Martin Jol likened Fulham's play to that of 'Real Madrid of the olden days' after their impressive Europa League victory over Wisla Krakow on Thursday, but four years ago the Dutchman endured a far more regrettable night in Europe. On Sunday, he will come face-to-face with that past for the first time since.

Sat in the Tottenham dugout on October 25, 2007, amidst a flurry of rumours that he'd been sacked by chairman Daniel Levy, the popular manager witnessed his Spurs side lose 2-1 at home to Getafe, only the second European home defeat in their history.

For neutrals it was awkward and uncomfortable, and utterly embarrassing for those associated with Spurs. Their most popular manager since Bill Nicholson was humiliated on live television.

It marked an end to a degrading period of his tenure, in which club officials had been caught wining and dining the Sevilla coach Juande Ramos. But in truth, Jol had already dodged the axe the previous February.

Ironically, it was a 4-0 FA Cup triumph at Fulham that saved him, but tensions between Jol and the board had been taut for some time.

On two occasions he negotiated a pay rise by threatening to join Newcastle United – who had offered him the manager's job. This would only increase Levy's scepticism as to whether he was the right man.

The turmoil surrounding Jol's appointment is often forgotten, but Levy never fully recovered from it. Following the sacking of Glenn Hoddle (and David Pleat's subsequent caretaker role) Spurs went on the continental offensive; such was their desire to replicate the success of neighbours Arsenal.

Former France national coach Jacques Santini was appointed in June 2004, a month after Arsene Wenger recorded his greatest achievement with the 'Invincibles', while Dutchman Frank Arnesen arrived as director of football. Jol came in as Santini's assistant.

Santini would later resign in early November, citing "personal reasons", after infuriating Spurs fans for his failure to acknowledge the passing of Nicholson, their most successful manager. Following pressure from Arnesen, Jol was appointed head coach three days later.

Jol proved an instant hit with the fans with his glowing tribute to Nicholson on the day of his appointment, recounting that, "all the players and I were at the memorial service and we could not help but be inspired by the values and standards that he set and which we must try to regain."


Down and out | News broke of Jol's dismissal during Uefa Cup defeat to Getafe

Jol would guide Spurs to successive fifth-place finishes in his two full seasons at the helm, narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification in the 2005-06 campaign following the notorious lasagne incident ahead of their match at Upton Park on the final day, when the squad was decimated by food poisoning.

With his success came added expectancy. The Spurs board wanted Champions League football, and failure to achieve it, coupled with their lacklustre start and growing tensions, proved decisive.

In November 2007, weeks after his sacking, the Dutchman wrote the preface for Martin Jol: The Inside Story, in which he discussed Tottenham's transfer policy of acquiring youth to nurture them into stars.

"The club's policy of buying players for the future was a sound one," wrote Jol, "but there are occasions when you need a bit of experience, when you need a leader in certain areas of the pitch."

"The truth is that I needed another Ledley King in central defence, and maybe a leader like Ledley in midfield.

"Perhaps my biggest regret is that King was not there for all of the time, and was not there for this season when I needed him the most. Youngsters cannot do it on their own, they need help."

"I believed in the players we had," he continued, "but more experience would have made the difference. Look at Michael Dawson, he's been outstanding alongside King, but looked inexperienced since Ledley's been injured.

"Bale, Kaboul and Bent have that chance to prove themselves, but they really do need experience alongside them."

THE JOL-ERA SIGNINGS STILL AT SPURS


BENOIT ASSOU-EKOTTO


GARETH BALE


MICHAEL DAWSON


TOM HUDDLESTONE


YOUNES KABOUL


AARON LENNON

*JEMAINE JENAS (ON LOAN AT ASTON VILLA) & DANNY ROSE ALSO REMAIN

Jol was right. The squad which came so close to finishing in the top four had a far better blend of experience and youth.

Edgar Davids and Moroccan veteran Noureddine Naybet were brought in to complement a developing squad housing the likes of Michael Carrick, Jermaine Jenas and Robbie Keane, who themselves were already accustomed to the Premier League.

This was a far cry from the senior players Jol would have at the end of his reign. Damien Comolli – who replaced Arnesen after he joined the Chelsea revolution – acquired Didier Zokora and Gilberto, but they were not the 'leaders' which Jol craved to work alongside Aaron Lennon, Bale, Tom Huddlestone, Dawson and Younes Kaboul.

Jol would fall short, and Ramos would indeed arrive. After initial success of lifting the 2008 League Cup (for which Jol received a bonus having guided them to the fourth round) the mass exodus of players under the Spaniard crippled Spurs to the extent that by late October he was gone, with Spurs rock-bottom of the table. 

Ramos' demise confirmed the harsh reality that Levy needed to change Spurs' direction. In the Spaniard he had appointed a successful European coach, working in harmony with Comolli, as opposed to Jol – a manager who had made his name stabilising smaller clubs on the continent. Ironically, Levy's next appointment held a CV, albeit longer, comparable with the Dutchman's.

Harry Redknapp was drafted in and the rest, as they say, is history. He would succeed where his predecessors failed and guide Spurs to the Champions League. But not, importantly, without a change of approach from Levy and the board.

Spurs were no longer in continental limbo. Comolli and the director of football role were gone, and Redknapp immediately went about restocking with experience. Pascal Chimbonda, Jermain Defoe, Kaboul, and Keane were all re-signed within the first 10 months, while the experienced Peter Crouch also arrived.

Interestingly, two of Redknapp's key signings have fitted the exact mould that Jol had craved: William Gallas and Scott Parker, not to mention the increased availability of King.

By the time Redknapp's machine was in full swing those aforementioned prodigies were four years older, four years more experienced. He has of course worked wonders with the likes of Bale, but the improvement of Kaboul last season when paired alongside Gallas, the other 'King in central defence', is unquestionable.

Redknapp should rightfully take the plaudits for what has been a fantastic three years for the club, but the foundations laid by Jol should not be forgotten – for his sacking and Levy's failed continental dream helped make it all possible.