Mauricio Pochettino has spoken for the first time since being sacked by Tottenham - and has thanked Spurs chairman Daniel Levy for their five-and-a-half year spell together. Pochettino was sacked last week and replaced by Jose Mourinho a little over 11 hours later. But the Argentine remains grateful for the time he spent in north London.

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Although Pochettino's tenure failed to yield a trophy, under him Spurs managed four consecutive top-four finishes in the Premier League and were also title contenders in 2015-16, when Leicester won the league. The 46-year-old also led the club to their first ever Champions League final last term, although Spurs were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool in Madrid. Pochettino was immensely popular with Spurs fans, although his departure became somewhat of an inevitability due to his side's poor form across 2019. And he was keen to thank Spurs' fanbase for their support in their time together, as well as extending his appreciation to Spurs chairman Levy and club owner Joe Lewis. JUST IN: Hoddle claims Man Utd and Arsenal played role in Spurs' Mourinho appointment

Mauricio Pochettino breaks silence on Tottenham sack and sends message to Daniel Levy

READ MORE Mauricio Pochettino told Lloris to send private text to Spurs squad “I would like to thank Joe Lewis and Daniel Levy for giving me the opportunity to be part of Tottenham Hotspur’s history," Pochettino said, in a statement via the League Managers Association. “I would like to thank also everyone I met at Tottenham, all the club staff and the football players during these five and a half years. "Finally I would like to give a special mention to the fans who make this club so great with their fantastic support. "I gave the best of me to accomplish the objectives I was asked for in our first meeting. "There were equally tough challenges as exciting success. "Best wishes for the future, I am sure we will cross paths again.”

Pochettino was in charge at Spurs between May 2014 and November 2019

Tottenham only won two Premier League away games in 2019 under Pochettino, and none since January 20, while they lost 19 of their 46 matches under the South American across all competitions in the current calendar year. They sat 14th in the league at the time of his departure, 11 points adrift of the top four and 20 off of league leaders Liverpool. But Pochettino's replacement, Mourinho, was full of praise for his predecessor as he gave his first press conference as the new Spurs manager last Thursday. The Portuguese was eager to recognise the long-term project that Pochettino has played a major part in at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, insisting that because of that, his presence will never be refused at the club's training ground. He said: "First of all, I think I have to and I do it with a bit of sadness, I have to speak about Mauricio. “I have to congratulate him for the work he did. I have to share with you what we already shared indoors, which is that this club will always be his home. DON'T MISS Dele Alli admits he blames himself for Pochettino sack [INTERVIEW] Arsenal told to sack Unai Emery and approach Pochettino [ADVICE]

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Pochettino was sacked by chairman Daniel Levy last week

"This training ground will always be his training ground, he can come whenever he wants. “The door is always open for him and from my experience tomorrow is another day and he will find happiness again. "He will find a great club again and he will have a great future. He will always be welcome.” And chairman Levy similarly eulogised about Pochettino's work at the club in his announcement that the tactician had been relieved of his duties. "We were extremely reluctant to make this change and it is not a decision the Board has taken lightly, nor in haste," he wrote.