What a ride it was. There have already been enough post-mortems of Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham during the death throes of his magnificent five-and-a-half-year reign, so now is the time to celebrate an incredible and unexpected journey.

When he replaced Tim Sherwood in May 2014, Pochettino inherited a bloated, ego-riven squad and found a club lacking direction and divided,

with an increasingly apathetic fanbase. He quickly detected a fragile, ‘Spursy’ mentality.

The Argentine soon became a golden thread of unity, running from the boardroom to the terraces, imbuing the entire club with his values and philosophy, centred on work ethic and a strong sense of the collective. He took supporters to heights they never dreamed of. He leaves behind a far bigger club in every respect.

In his first interview as boss, Pochettino promised supporters he would “make them proud”. Job done. No Spurs fan will forget the joy and exhilaration.

Against the odds, Pochettino led Spurs to the brink of being kings of Europe, while operating on a fraction of his rivals’ resources and sticking to the club’s core traditions of attractive, attacking football and developing young players.

If the Champions League Final itself remains a bittersweet memory, the dreamlike run to Madrid will always be iconic, unforgettable. Particularly that night in Amsterdam, when Pochettino burst screaming onto the pitch, roared during the frenzied celebrations and wept afterwards in front of the TV cameras as he was confronted with the magnitude of what he had achieved.

Above any other occasion, the 3-2 win at Ajax will contribute to a lasting bond between Pochettino and Spurs supporters, but it was far from the only memorable moment he inspired, going all the way back to his first game in charge, when Eric Dier surged past West Ham goalkeeper Adrian in stoppage-time.

Daniel Levy's Tottenham managers 11 show all Daniel Levy's Tottenham managers 1/11 George Graham (1998-2001) Former Arsenal boss George Graham was already at the club when Levy arrived in 2000, and had won the League Cup in 1999, but was sacked in ugly fashion in 2001. Getty Images 2/11 David Pleat – Caretaker (2001 & 2003-04) Pleat had himself been manager for a brief spell in the 80s, and would go on to complete three caretaker stints in charge. Getty Images 3/11 Glenn Hoddle (2001-03) Spurs legend Hoddle became Levy’s first appointment in 2001, and took them to the League Cup final in 2002, but was sacked just six games into the 2003/04 season after an awful start to the campaign. Getty Images 4/11 Jacques Santini (2004) Santini arrived in London from France with a huge reputation, having excelled with Lyon and also managed the national side but reigned after only 13 matches. Manchester United via Getty Imag 5/11 Martin Jol (2004-07) The likeable Dutchman helped push Spurs towards being top four contenders, though they famously missed out on the final day of the 2005/06 season. News of his sacking in October 2007 broke during Spurs’ Uefa Cup defeat to Getafe. Getty Images 6/11 Clive Allen – Caretaker (2007 & 2008) Allen was another who was called upon to steady the ship as a caretaker on more than one occasion. Getty Images 7/11 Juande Ramos (2007-08) Ramos took over with Spurs in the relegation zone, but initially improved their fortunes and ended their trophy drought with League Cup success. However, he was sacked the following season after overseeing the club’s worst ever start to a league season. Getty Images 8/11 Harry Redknapp (2008-12) Redknapp took over and would go on to guide Spurs into the Champions League for the first time, but was sacked following the 2011/12 season. AFP via Getty Images 9/11 Andre Villas-Boas (2012-13) Despite a disappointing introduction to English football at Chelsea, AVB was hired as Redknapp’s successor. The Portuguese would overhaul the squad following the huge sale of Gareth Bale, but left midway through his second season. AFP via Getty Images 10/11 Tim Sherwood (2013-14) Sherwood initially replaced Villas-Boas on a temporary basis, but was soon given the job full-time. However, he was sacked just six months into an 18-month contract. Getty Images 11/11 Mauricio Pochettino (2014-19) Pochettino took Spurs to new heights, turning them into top four regulars, overseeing the move to a new stadium and reaching the Champions League final. However, he was sacked less than six months after that game. Getty Images 1/11 George Graham (1998-2001) Former Arsenal boss George Graham was already at the club when Levy arrived in 2000, and had won the League Cup in 1999, but was sacked in ugly fashion in 2001. Getty Images 2/11 David Pleat – Caretaker (2001 & 2003-04) Pleat had himself been manager for a brief spell in the 80s, and would go on to complete three caretaker stints in charge. Getty Images 3/11 Glenn Hoddle (2001-03) Spurs legend Hoddle became Levy’s first appointment in 2001, and took them to the League Cup final in 2002, but was sacked just six games into the 2003/04 season after an awful start to the campaign. Getty Images 4/11 Jacques Santini (2004) Santini arrived in London from France with a huge reputation, having excelled with Lyon and also managed the national side but reigned after only 13 matches. Manchester United via Getty Imag 5/11 Martin Jol (2004-07) The likeable Dutchman helped push Spurs towards being top four contenders, though they famously missed out on the final day of the 2005/06 season. News of his sacking in October 2007 broke during Spurs’ Uefa Cup defeat to Getafe. Getty Images 6/11 Clive Allen – Caretaker (2007 & 2008) Allen was another who was called upon to steady the ship as a caretaker on more than one occasion. Getty Images 7/11 Juande Ramos (2007-08) Ramos took over with Spurs in the relegation zone, but initially improved their fortunes and ended their trophy drought with League Cup success. However, he was sacked the following season after overseeing the club’s worst ever start to a league season. Getty Images 8/11 Harry Redknapp (2008-12) Redknapp took over and would go on to guide Spurs into the Champions League for the first time, but was sacked following the 2011/12 season. AFP via Getty Images 9/11 Andre Villas-Boas (2012-13) Despite a disappointing introduction to English football at Chelsea, AVB was hired as Redknapp’s successor. The Portuguese would overhaul the squad following the huge sale of Gareth Bale, but left midway through his second season. AFP via Getty Images 10/11 Tim Sherwood (2013-14) Sherwood initially replaced Villas-Boas on a temporary basis, but was soon given the job full-time. However, he was sacked just six months into an 18-month contract. Getty Images 11/11 Mauricio Pochettino (2014-19) Pochettino took Spurs to new heights, turning them into top four regulars, overseeing the move to a new stadium and reaching the Champions League final. However, he was sacked less than six months after that game. Getty Images

There were so many other great matches, it is hard to pick a top 10, a top 20 even. Every fan will have their favourite. There was the dismantling of Jose Mourinho’s soon-to-be-champions Chelsea in January 2015, when Pochettino’s relentless pressing machine came of age in a 5-3 win at White Hart Lane.

Victory at Manchester City had Spurs dreaming of the title a year later and the following season, the last at the Lane, they were unbeaten at their famous old ground, along the way inflicting a first defeat in English football on Pep Guardiola.

A home victory over Arsenal signposted the long-awaited north London power shift to come and Pochettino beat Antonio Conte at his own game in a 2-0 win over Chelsea in January 2017.

And the joy of the final game at the Lane — a win over Manchester United and the parade of legends under a rainbow.

The move to Wembley was just another challenge met fearlessly by Pochettino, and even as Daniel Levy pulled the purse strings ever tighter, he continued to produce miracles.

The scintillating victory over European champions Real Madrid followed, as well as a thrashing of Liverpool and further wins over Arsenal and Chelsea. There were victorious visits to Old Trafford and even Stamford Bridge, as vintage hoodoos were broken.

Even when Spurs made the unprecedented decision not to change their squad in summer 2018, the landmarks kept coming, notably those surreal nights at City and Ajax.

All of those victories ultimately belong to Pochettino, above anyone else.

While not blameless for his own demise, he has been the beating heart of the club’s transformation, his work the reason Mourinho has accepted Levy’s call at the third time of asking. Pochettino’s fingerprints are all over everything great about this Spurs era.

From Harry Kane’s emergence and all those records to Dele Alli’s rise; from the transformation of Heung-min Son to the majesty of Mousa Dembele — one of Pochettino’s “five geniuses”, who had Sami Khedira chasing shadows in the 2-2 draw at Juventus; from the rampaging peak of Kyle Walker and Danny Rose to the classy resolve of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld; from Christian Eriksen’s brilliance to Eric Dier’s dependability.

The only significant caveat to Pochettino’s remarkable work is Tottenham’s lack of silverware.

Despite leading them to two finals — the 2015 League Cup and the 2019 Champions League — and three semi-finals — two in the FA Cup and one in the League Cup — Spurs remain without a trophy since 2008 and the manager’s detractors have repeatedly used it as a stick to beat him with.

This criticism is to miss the point and anyone wondering if Pochettino’s reign is somehow less for the absence of silverware, or who believes it was not really an era at all, should think again.

The British philosopher, Alan Watts, argued that it is a mistake to view life as a journey, with an end destination firmly in mind. Watts instead saw existence as something playful, like music.

“All the time that ‘thing’ is coming,” Watts wrote. “It’s coming, it’s coming, that great ‘thing’ — the success you’ve been working for — but we cheated ourselves the whole way down the line. We thought of life as analogy with a journey, a pilgrimage, which had a serious purpose at the end. And the whole thing was to get to that end: success, or whatever it is.

Mauricio Pochettino's managerial career 19 show all Mauricio Pochettino's managerial career 1/19 Mauricio Pochettino is without a job after being sacked by Tottenham after five-and-a-half years in charge.

Here is a look back at his managerial career... AFP via Getty Images 2/19 January 2009 Pochettino is appointed manager of Espanyol, with his only managerial experience being as assistant to the ladies team boss. AFP/Getty Images 3/19 February 2009 Pochettino guides his Espanyol side to a first league win at league rivals Barcelona in 27 years. Getty Images 4/19 November 2012 With Espanyol bottom of the league - though still receiving high praise from the media - Pochettino agrees to a mutual termination of his contract. AFP/Getty Images 5/19 January 2013 Pochettino makes the move to the Premier League as he replaces Nigel Adkins as manager of Southampton Getty Images 6/19 February 2013 Pochettino picks up his first win as Southampton boss, a 3-1 victory over then champions Manchester City. The first of many upsets during his time at the club. Getty Images 7/19 May 2014 Pochettino guides Southampton to an impressive 8th in his only full term at the club. Getty Images 8/19 August 2014 Having left Southampton for Tottenham Pochettino takes charge of his first Spurs game, a 1-0 win over West Ham. AFP/Getty Images 9/19 November 2014 A Harry Kane free-kick hands Pochettino a vital win over Aston Villa - a goal the Argentine would later admit saved his job. Getty Images 10/19 February 2015 A brace from Harry Kane gives Pochettino his first north London derby win. Getty Images 11/19 March 2015 Pochettino leads Tottenham to the League Cup Final, where they lose 2-0 to Mourinho's Chelsea. Getty Images 12/19 May 2016 The 'Battle of the Bridge' brings an end to Tottenham's first title challenge under Pochettino. Getty Images 13/19 September 2016 Pochettino oversees his first Champions League game as Tottenham manager, a 2-1 loss to Monaco. AFP/Getty Images 14/19 January 2017 Dele Alli scores twice as Tottenham beat eventual Premier League champions Chelsea 2-0 in the final season at White Hart Lane, with Spurs finishing runners-up. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 15/19 September 2017 Pochettino oversees a dramatic 3-1 Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund as Tottenham start their group with a win. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 16/19 November 2017 After a 1-1 draw at Santiago Bernabeu, Tottenham beat Champions League holders Real Madrid at Wembley as Pochettino reached the knockout stages for the first time. Getty Images 17/19 June 2019 Pochettino leads Spurs to the Champions League final - but Liverpool win 2-0 in Madrid Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 18/19 October 2019 Tottenham are thrashed 7-2 at home by Bayern Munich to raise question marks over Pochettino Getty Images 19/19 November 2019 Mauricio Pochettino is sacked by Tottenham following a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Utd PA/Gareth Fuller 1/19 Mauricio Pochettino is without a job after being sacked by Tottenham after five-and-a-half years in charge.

Here is a look back at his managerial career... AFP via Getty Images 2/19 January 2009 Pochettino is appointed manager of Espanyol, with his only managerial experience being as assistant to the ladies team boss. AFP/Getty Images 3/19 February 2009 Pochettino guides his Espanyol side to a first league win at league rivals Barcelona in 27 years. Getty Images 4/19 November 2012 With Espanyol bottom of the league - though still receiving high praise from the media - Pochettino agrees to a mutual termination of his contract. AFP/Getty Images 5/19 January 2013 Pochettino makes the move to the Premier League as he replaces Nigel Adkins as manager of Southampton Getty Images 6/19 February 2013 Pochettino picks up his first win as Southampton boss, a 3-1 victory over then champions Manchester City. The first of many upsets during his time at the club. Getty Images 7/19 May 2014 Pochettino guides Southampton to an impressive 8th in his only full term at the club. Getty Images 8/19 August 2014 Having left Southampton for Tottenham Pochettino takes charge of his first Spurs game, a 1-0 win over West Ham. AFP/Getty Images 9/19 November 2014 A Harry Kane free-kick hands Pochettino a vital win over Aston Villa - a goal the Argentine would later admit saved his job. Getty Images 10/19 February 2015 A brace from Harry Kane gives Pochettino his first north London derby win. Getty Images 11/19 March 2015 Pochettino leads Tottenham to the League Cup Final, where they lose 2-0 to Mourinho's Chelsea. Getty Images 12/19 May 2016 The 'Battle of the Bridge' brings an end to Tottenham's first title challenge under Pochettino. Getty Images 13/19 September 2016 Pochettino oversees his first Champions League game as Tottenham manager, a 2-1 loss to Monaco. AFP/Getty Images 14/19 January 2017 Dele Alli scores twice as Tottenham beat eventual Premier League champions Chelsea 2-0 in the final season at White Hart Lane, with Spurs finishing runners-up. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 15/19 September 2017 Pochettino oversees a dramatic 3-1 Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund as Tottenham start their group with a win. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 16/19 November 2017 After a 1-1 draw at Santiago Bernabeu, Tottenham beat Champions League holders Real Madrid at Wembley as Pochettino reached the knockout stages for the first time. Getty Images 17/19 June 2019 Pochettino leads Spurs to the Champions League final - but Liverpool win 2-0 in Madrid Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 18/19 October 2019 Tottenham are thrashed 7-2 at home by Bayern Munich to raise question marks over Pochettino Getty Images 19/19 November 2019 Mauricio Pochettino is sacked by Tottenham following a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Utd PA/Gareth Fuller

But we missed the point all along. It was a musical thing and we were supposed to dance or sing.”

At the close, this is the best way to view Pochettino’s Spurs. Yes, Tottenham went on a journey under the 47-year-old, growing along the way, striving “step-by-step” to taste glory at the last.

Without silverware to show for it, it is easy to wonder if Pochettino’s pilgrimage never really reached its final destination. But it was a musical thing all along — and he made the Spurs fans dance and sing.