Premier League

Andre Villas-Boas leaves Spurs

ESPN staff

December 16, 2013

Tottenham Hotspur have announced that Andre Villas-Boas has left the club by mutual consent.

Villas-Boas's exit follows Spurs' 5-0 defeat by Liverpool at White Hart Lane, the club's worst home defeat in 16 years.

"The club can announce that agreement has been reached with head coach, Andre Villas-Boas, for the termination of his services," read a statement from Tottenham.

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"The decision was by mutual consent and in the interests of all parties."

"We wish Andre well for the future. We shall make a further announcement in due course."

Spurs are currently seventh in the Premier League table, two points ahead of Manchester United, and won their Europa League group with a 100% record, scoring 15 goals and conceding just two in six games.

Villas-Boas had a good record overall as Tottenham manager, averaging 1.83 points per league match, the highest of any Spurs boss in the Premier League era.

The 36-year-old spent heavily over the summer, bringing in seven players for a combined fee of £108million as Tottenham reinvested Gareth Bale's world record transfer fee.

A bright start to the Premier League campaign has been forgotten in recent weeks, particularly following the manner of the 6-0 defeat by Manchester City and the result against Liverpool, which have ultimately proved too much for Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and the board.

"I won't resign and I'm not a quitter," Villas-Boas said after the Liverpool match. "The only thing I can do is work hard with the players and try and get the results back on track."

Man City boss Manuel Pellegrini said: "Always when a manager is sacked, I am surprised, especially when it is an important manager. He is a very young manager, he has done very well with all the teams - Porto and here in England.

"He didn't have time in both clubs but I am absolutely sure he will continue his career."

Earlier, Harry Redknapp - sacked as Tottenham manager in 2012 after failing to qualify for the Champions League - had said Levy should give his successor Villas-Boas more time.

"I think people are over-reacting too quickly," Redknapp told talkSPORT. "You lose a couple of games now and you're in trouble, it shouldn't be like that.

"You either think somebody is good at their job or not and when you appoint someone you should give them time and let them do the job."

So AVB gone now! Had to incorporate 7 new players which takes TIME/ TIME/ TIME! Rubbish! Let him finish his work!!— Gary Neville (@GNev2) December 16, 2013