New era beckons for Spurs as Pochettino extends contract

Tottenham Hotspur may have missed out on the Premier League title, but they have been given a huge fillip ahead of the final game of the season with the news manager Mauricio Pochettino has signed a new contract that will keep him at White Hart Lane until 2021.

Assistant head coach Jesus Perez, first-team coach Miguel D'Agostino and goalkeeping coach Toni Jimenez have also extended their contracts.

Pochettino's deal was signed two weeks after he revealed a verbal agreement had been reached, an announcement that failed to end speculation that other clubs were after his services, in particular Manchester United.

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Saying he could "not be happier", he said: "It was an easy decision for my coaching staff and I because we can feel the appreciation of everyone here – there is no better place to be right now."

Now "he and Spurs can look ahead to the summer", says the Evening Standard. "The retention of Pochettino will be a relief to Tottenham supporters, who have watched their team record their highest finish in the Premier League era this season."

They are also on course to finish above Arsenal for the first time in a generation.

"Pochettino has created a fast and powerful side with a backbone of young English players such as striker Harry Kane, defender Eric Dier and midfielder Dele Alli, who have all received their first international caps during the Argentine's tenure," notes the BBC.

But it is not just on the pitch that Pochettino has impressed, says The Guardian. "It ought not to go unnoticed – and it has not at boardroom level – that Pochettino is £6.3m in credit on permanent fees spent across his four transfer windows at the club. Tottenham must finance their new £400m stadium, into which they intend to move in 2018-19, and so Pochettino's ability to succeed without heavy backing on the market is invaluable."

The paper adds that with Pochettino secure, a host of key players are set to commit their futures to the club as it hopes to enter a new era.