What the Antonio Conte reign means to Tottenham Hotspur supporters

Even before Antonio Conte has had time to work his magic on his new club, feverish excitement pervades the air around Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. 

Let’s be clear. Nothing can compare to the inimitable feeling of anticipation and excitement felt in the lead up to Tottenham’s Champions League Final against Liverpool in 2019.

Conte’s appointment, though, has injected a sense of optimism not felt since that improbable, magical European run.

Some sections of Tottenham’s faithful felt similar butterflies when Jose Mourinho was named as Tottenham manager. But most, due to Mourinho’s sullen, dogged and defensive style, knew he was the wrong man for the job. The majority understood that his rigid, dogmatic philosophy belied Tottenham’s identity. Naming Mourinho manager was an affront to the club’s ingrained culture, the in-your-face, pulsating, enterprising brand of football Spurs supporters live for.

Which is why Conte’s era at Spurs provides such an omnipresent beacon of light, optimism and positivity. The Italian maestro is upbeat, charismatic, impassioned and determined. He is the pure embodiment of high-energy football and works tirelessly both on and off the pitch, exactly what he expects from his players. Like any exceptional leader, Conte only expects from his players what he expects from himself.

He holds individuals accountable and provides each of his players the tools they need to succeed. If players don’t get onboard with the program after the expectations are set, Conte has no qualms about cutting them loose. He is, like any champion, ruthless and unapologetic. Of course Conte’s no-nonsense methodology comes with some drawbacks. He, like Mourinho, is a flash-in-the-pan manager, someone who, for various reasons, doesn’t last long at clubs.

That aside, Conte has offered Tottenham supporters hope, something nobody has been able to do since Mauricio Pochettino’s reign. He is the right man for the job, and was appointed when the night was darkest in north London. Hope is an incredibly powerful emotion. It offers something for supporters to hold on to.

Knowing better days are ahead, so long as Daniel Levy doesn’t screw it up, is worth its weight in gold. I can’t speak for other Tottenham supporters, but I certainly feel a lighter, fresher bounce in my step. Like a giddy kid in anticipation of Christmas, I cannot wait for the next time Spurs step onto the pitch.

Of course the road back to prosperity won’t be easy. It will be loaded with bumps and potholes, but at least hope, like a colossal, irrepressible force, has returned to north London. Now we just need to trust in Conte’s ability to turn this team around and enjoy the long journey to glory.