Antonio Conte’s tumultuous time at Spurs has finally come to an end after weeks of speculation.
The Italian has now ways with the club “by mutual agreement” after 16 months in charge.
Spurs face Everton on Monday night following the international break.
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Conte took charge in November 2021 but failed to challenge for the title. He became increasingly frustrated with life in London and the writing has been on the wall for a number of weeks.
He was out of contract at the end of the season but continued to moan about the club’s poor transfer plans.
His rant at his players after Tottenham Hotspur blew a two-goal lead in a damaging 3-3 draw at bottom club Southampton earlier this month as the final blow.
Although they remained fourth in the Premier League after that debacle, Spurs are in serious danger of missing out on Champions League qualification – fifth-placed Newcastle are two points behind, with two games in hand.
Levy reportedly became concerned about Conte’s mood swings this season. There were claims the squad were tired of their manager’s acerbic tongue, while fans bemoaned his perceived negative tactics.
The chairman would surely have preferred to keep Conte to avoid the upheaval triggered by a coaching change at such a critical time of the season.
But the manager’s stinging criticism of his underachieving stars made his relationship with Levy more tricky.
To some, it appeared Conte was so fed up with Tottenham’s inconsistency that his remarkable rant was an act of self-immolation designed to force his exit.
The club were dumped out of both the FA Cup and Champions League earlier this month as Conte’s problems spiralled.
He had only recently returned to the touchline after a spell back in Italy recovering from gallbladder surgery and his patience ran out after Tottenham threw away a 3-1 lead with just 13 minutes remaining at Southampton.
“It’s the right moment to speak because for me this is unacceptable,” Conte said. “For another time we showed we are not a team.
“I see selfish players, I see players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart in.”
The former Italy coach won three Serie A titles as Juventus boss, led Chelsea to their most recent Premier League crown in 2017 and ended Inter Milan’s 11-year wait to become Italian champions in 2021.
Mauricio Pochettino has been linked with a return.