Tottenham Hotspur's caretaker manager Tim Sherwood, right, applauds the supporters at the end of their English Premier League soccer match against Southampton at St Mary's stadium, Southampton, England, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
December 23, 2013 - 5:28 PM
LONDON - Tottenham appointed the inexperienced Tim Sherwood as head coach on Monday until the end of next season in a surprise move by the north London club, a week after Andre Villas-Boas was fired.
The 44-year-old Englishman had not previously managed a team until being moved from his technical co-ordinator job at Tottenham to become interim manager last Monday.
It has been a mixed week for Sherwood, whose first match saw Tottenham beaten in the League Cup by West Ham on Wednesday before he oversaw a 3-2 victory at Southampton in the Premier League.
The win took Tottenham just six points behind leader Liverpool with the best away record in the Premier League, showing the potential in a team that has been reconstructed following the sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid in the summer transfer window.
Sherwood was uncertain on Sunday if he would even remain in charge for Thursday's match against West Bromwich Albion, although a short-term deal until the end of the season seemed most likely.
But after several leading managers ruled themselves out of taking the job, chairman Daniel Levy has gambled by entrusting the club's top coaching job to a novice.
"We were extremely reluctant to make a change mid-season, but felt we had to do so in the club's best interests," Levy said. "We have a great squad and we owe them a head coach who will bring out the best in them and allow them to flourish and enjoy a strong, exciting finish to the season."
Sherwood, who played for Tottenham between 1999 and 2003, returned to White Hart Lane in a part-time capacity in Oct. 2008 to work with then-manager Harry Redknapp.
Until then, Sherwood had spent his time since retiring from playing in 2005 working in the media.
"We are in the fortunate position of having within our club a talented coach in Tim Sherwood," Levy said. "We believe Tim has both the knowledge and the drive to take the squad forward."
Sherwood's highlight as a player was captaining Blackburn when it won the Premier League in 1995.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013