'I played for Tottenham manager candidate – everyone who has says same thing about him'

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Former Tottenham coach and player Chris Hughton has been mentioned as an improbable candidate to return following Igor Tudor's departure. Spurs have already received a strong indication about how highly the 67-year-old is valued by players.

With the club in turmoil and the genuine prospect of relegation looming large, Tottenham dismissed caretaker boss Tudor over the weekend . His spell lasted merely 44 days and he managed to secure not a single Premier League victory after succeeding Thomas Frank.

Spurs now require a manager to arrive and rescue them from the drop and numerous names have been suggested. Former Brighton chief Roberto De Zerbi seems to be the frontrunner , according to reports, but Hughton has also been cited.

Hughton accumulated a total of 27 years at the club, initially as a player, featuring in almost 400 matches, and subsequently as a coach. He served as an interim or caretaker boss in north London on three separate occasions and while it appears unlikely that he'll be summoned once more, he is highly rated by those who have worked under him .

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The former Republic of Ireland international departed Spurs in 2007 as part of outgoing Martin Jol's backroom staff and took on first-team roles at other clubs. He began as a coach at Newcastle , then became caretaker manager and ultimately head coach.

Hughton went on to take charge of Birmingham City, Norwich City , Brighton, Nottingham Forest and the Ghana national side, with his last position ending in January 2024. Michael Dawson worked under Hughton at both Spurs and Forest. Speaking to The Athletic in 2020, he said: "I have spoken to a lot of players who have worked under him and they all say, 'Wow, what a gaffer he is.'

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"I first got to know Chris at Spurs, from the first day I walked in at the age of 21. He was assistant manager to Martin Jol and he took me under his wing and looked after me at a time when I was stepping into a different world . I was trying to settle in at a massive club, in a new city and Chris was a massive help for me, not just as a coach or manager, but on a personal level.

"He just helped to keep me calm at a time when I was desperate to make a positive first impression. I arrived with a stress fracture in my shin. I was injured. But, when you get signed for money, there is pressure on you. I went into this dressing room with some absolute superstars and I was just a young lad from the Championship. I was concerned.

"But he was always dead chatty, always telling me to relax because my opportunity would come. Thankfully that did eventually happen. But he was always just encouraging me. Playing in the Premier League brings expectation and he always went out of his way to help. He would help me on the training ground and he was always approachable if you wanted a chat."

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Reflecting on Hughton's arrival at the City Ground six years ago, he added: "Chris has expectations and standards he will set and an intensity he will expect from you. If you give him those things, you will get honesty back from him.

"The intensity of training changed immediately... but that is normal. Whenever a new manager comes in, players all know how important first impressions are. They all want to impress. You want to be playing in his first game. You want to be part of things.