Manchester United might be about to show Tottenham their biggest regret

For the third time in less than two years, Tottenham are searching for a new manager, but when a resurgent Manchester United visit North London on Thursday, Daniel Levy might cast a glance to the commanding figure in the away dugout and curse the one that got away.

In truth, that description doesn't really do it justice. Erik ten Hag didn't get away from Tottenham, rather Tottenham let him go. The then Ajax manager was interviewed for the post before Nuno Espirito Santo was appointed, but according to reports at the time in the Netherlands, he didn't make a convincing impression.

Considering how badly Levy and Spurs flunked that search, it seems remarkable they didn't eventually land on Ten Hag. Nuno was well down the list of preferred candidates. He was so far down it that he was overlooked once but appointed when everyone else ruled themselves out.

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Hansi Flick, Antonio Conte, Paulo Fonseca, Gennaro Gattuso and Mauricio Pochettino were all either considered or approached, but circumstances meant the underwhelming Nuno was the last man standing. He was sacked after 17 games and a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United, then managed by an under-pressure Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Conte did then agree to join and when they finished fourth last season it looked like progress, but that has exploded dramatically this season. The combustible Conte burnt his bridges with the players and the decision to let his assistant Christian Stellini take charge was a strange one. So it proved at St James' Park on Sunday.

Now Spurs will almost certainly miss out on the Champions League and will be searching for another new manager. While the fans want Pochettino, Levy has ignored those