A run of dire results under Pochettino, right, led to Spurs beginning talks with Mourinho several days ago

José Mourinho has been named as Tottenham Hotspur manager after Daniel Levy’s decision to sack Mauricio Pochettino 171 days on from the club’s first appearance in the Champions League final.

Out of work for the past 11 months, Mourinho, the former Manchester United and Chelsea manager, regards Tottenham as an opportunity to win more silverware at the highest level of the English and European game, and the 56-year-old has signed a deal until the summer of 2023.

The Times understands that discussions between Tottenham and Mourinho had been taking place for several days. Levy, the Tottenham Chairman, is seeking an immediate turnaround to a poor start to the Premier League campaign, with the club sitting 14th in the table, threatening a financially important fifth consecutive