Tottenham must consider appointing this Mauricio Pochettino alternative as manager

Kjetil Knutsen has worked wonders for fairytale-makers Bodø/Glimt, and the Norwegian absolutely should be on Tottenham's managerial shortlist this summer.

The overriding consensus is that if Spurs opt against reuniting with Mauricio Pochettino this summer, they require a near-identical profile to the man who rocked up at White Hart Lane in 2014. The Argentine is the favourite to oversee the "painful rebuild" he foreshadowed seven years ago, and he's made no secret of his desire to return to north London.

#PochBack is undoubtedly more enticing than ever, with supporters desperate for connection to a nostalgic past. However, there are caveats to re-hiring our much-loved former boss, including his commitment to the USMNT this summer, which would disrupt pre-season.

First things first, Tottenham need to preserve their Premier League status. While the hierarchy should be working tirelessly behind the scenes to best set the Lilywhites up for the future, the here and now must be prioritised. Spurs are in a fight for top-flight survival, and Igor Tudor has been tasked with getting this sinking club out of the mire. The Croatian knows he won't be here beyond the summer.

This unpopular board has been rather predictable with much of their work beyond Daniel Levy, and their first transfer window in January was met with widespread displeasure. Their inability to think outside the box left Spurs in a weaker position than when they entered the window, but they did opt for a left-field gamble in Tudor when picking a short-term Thomas Frank successor.

Bringing Pochettino back for a second bite of the cherry would be the obvious, populist move, and it's imperative that the decision-makers aren't hung up on the idea of fleeting satisfaction. Their next manager has to be the guy they believe can oversee a successful long-term rebuild in N17.

That may well be Poch, but there are exciting alternatives out there.

Knutsen should be contender for Tottenham job

Ange Postecoglou's stock only soared this week when Bodø/Glimt, comprehensively beaten by Ange's Spurs in last season's Europa League semi-final, advanced into the Champions League round of 16.

The small town club from the Arctic Circle have won four games on the bounce against Manchester City, Atlético Madrid and Inter Milan twice (all during the off-season!). Their leading man, Kjetil Knutsen, has created something special, first joining the club as an assistant in 2017.

Knutsen may well be the project manager Tottenham desperately crave. Bodø's rise is not merely down the Knutsen's work, but the 57-year-old has played a starring role on the touchline.

His team can shapeshift from territorial dominators to diligent defensive workhorses depending on what the game asks of them. Still, the foundational principles allow for a brand of football that undoubtedly adheres to the mythical "Tottenham Way".

Bodø have not operated like plucky underdogs against some of the continent's finest, and instead overwhelmed them through outstanding cohesion in and out of possession. Systematic clarity has been key to their success, with Knutsen's team bereft of stars.

In a way, Knutsen's kind of what we hoped Frank to be: adaptable, balanced and Scandinavian. The Dane lacked any progressive principles to fall back on, however. The default was a sloppy mess. Knutsen's more idealistic, but there's no denying his pragmatic edge, too. It's the perfect harmony.

However, prising him away from Bodø would be an almighty task. He's built the Arctic Circlers into four-time Norwegian champions and current European giant-killers, with the environment he's helped cultivate ensuring everybody associated with the club is aligned. Forcing him into a far more chaotic setting bereft of strong top-down leadership could end in disaster, as was the case with Frank.

His comfort at the club he's helped transform means a departure to a messy situation in north London appears unlikely, but I'd still be encouraged if I saw reports linking Knutsen to the job. Thinking outside the box wouldn't do this board any harm in their managerial search.