Tottenham boss Antonio Conte leaves after mutual agreement

Antonio Conte has left Tottenham Hotspur by mutual consent after 16 months in charge, the club announced on Sunday.

Spurs are fourth in the Premier League, but will not end their 15-year wait for a trophy this season after exiting all cup competitions in recent weeks, as relations between Conte and the club deteriorated at all levels.

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Conte's assistant Cristian Stellini has been named acting head coach for the rest of the season with Ryan Mason chosen as his assistant.

Chairman Daniel Levy said in a statement on Sunday evening: «We have 10 Premier League games remaining and we have a fight on our hands for a Champions League place.

»We all need to pull together. Everyone has to step up to ensure the highest possible finish for our club and amazing, loyal supporters."

Sources have told ESPN that Conte had grown frustrated at what he perceived was a difference in strategy with the club reluctant to commit to the radical overhaul of the team he believed was necessary.

This concern had been expressed privately on multiple occasions, but Conte could not hide his anger at the players after they allowed a 3-1 lead to slip at Southampton, conceding twice in the final 15 minutes to draw the game 3-3 just prior to the international break.

In a remarkable postmatch press conference, Conte launched a stinging attack on the players and the club's owners, ENIC.

«Tottenham's story is this: 20 years there is this owner and they never won something. Why?» Conte said. «The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stays here? I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench. You risk to disrupt the figure of the manager and to protect the other situation in every