Tottenham Sack Manager Christian Gross Know Your Tottenham History

Christian Gross’ nine month spell as manager at White Hart Lane came to an end on 6th September, 1998 when Alan Sugar sacked him. Gross had been under pressure throughout with constant media attention from his arrival the previous November with his London underground ticket in his hand. The players had been unresponsive to his methods and with poor dealings in the transfer market and poor results he was under constant threat of being sacked.

Gross had been a surprise appointment to replace Gerry Francis who had left Tottenham in October, 1997. He had a successful managerial career in Switzerland but was unknown in the wider European football world. His first match in charge of Tottenham had been a victory at Everton and his final game also brought victory at Goodison Park – he must have wished that he played there every week! Ramon Vega and David Ginola provided the goals for the early victory against Everton but on the following Saturday Spurs slumped to a 1 – 6 reverse at home to Chelsea. Spurs spent the rest of the season battling against relegation and were saved mostly by a penultimate day of the season victory at Wimbledon. A Ginola inspired Tottenham won 6 – 2 as Jurgen Klinsmann scored four goals.

Having retained their Premiership status, the early season’s results brought a 3-1 defeat at Wimbledon where ‘the grass was too long’ and a 3-0 reverse at home to Sheffield Wednesday where a disinterested Spurs were totally outplayed. The victory over Everton from a Les Ferdinand goal came too late, the damage had been done and the Chairman used the break for International football to start his search for another new manager, having again appointed David Pleat as caretaker manager.

After being sacked as Tottenham manager, Gross returned to Switzerland and was appointed the coach of Basel where he achieved great success over the next ten years.

#knowyourtottenhamhistory  5th September, 1882