Toby Alderweireld

In Profile: José Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspur

LCFC.com provides a rundown of Leicester City’s penultimate Premier League opponents of the 2019/20 campaign, Tottenham Hotspur.

The Foxes defeated Spurs, before Mauricio Pochettino's departure as their manager, with Ricardo Pereira and James Maddison finding the net at King Power Stadium back in September.

Spurs are now managed by José Mourinho, formerly of Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United, and head into Sunday's 4pm kick-off in encouraging form.

Ahead of the fixture, LCFC.com takes a closer look at the two-time champions of England...

The manager

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José Mourinho
José Mourinho

Mourinho joined his third English club, Spurs, earlier this season.

After an understated playing career, José Mourinho has since gone on to be regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time, winning major honours wherever he goes.

Initially working as a translator for Sir Bobby Robson at Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona, the Setúbal-born former midfielder entered the world of management in 2000 at Benfica.

It was at Porto, though, where Mourinho truly began to make his mark, winning successive Primeira Liga titles before following up a UEFA Cup triumph with the UEFA Champions League in 2004.

English audiences had been introduced to Mourinho when his Porto side beat Manchester United and he was back in the country to take the Chelsea manager's job in 2004, replacing Claudio Ranieri. The Blues took English football by storm and broke numerous records, winning consecutive Premier League titles, alongside two League Cup successes and one FA Cup victory before Mourinho left in 2007.

Another trophy-laden spell in Italy was next for Mourinho at Inter Milan as the iconic San Siro side secured two Serie A crowns, the Coppa Italia, the Supercoppa Italiana and the Champions League.

That 2009 Champions League Final win over Bayern Munich at the Bernabéu ended with emotional scenes as Mourinho had decided his next destination would be Spanish giants Real Madrid. A first La Liga title in four years ended Barcelona's dominance, while Mourinho's men also lifted the Copa Del Rey and the Supercopa de España, but his tenure in the Spanish capital came to an end in 2013.

A return to Chelsea layer that year eventually ended in another Premier League title, added to by the League Cup in 2015. However, Mourinho was dismissed after a loss at Leicester in the following December.

The Portuguese replaced Louis van Gaal at Manchester United in 2016 and finished his maiden season at Old Trafford with UEFA Europa League and League Cup wins, despite a disappointing league showing. United finished second in 2017/18, but Mourinho left during the following season after a difficult run of form and he later replaced Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur in November 2019.

Mourinho has a 100 per cent record in European finals and remains one of the most admired and enigmatic managers in the game. His win percentage at Spurs, meanwhile, is currently 45.45 per cent.

The squad

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Harry Kane & Son Heung-min
Harry Kane & Son Heung-min

Kane & Son have netted a combined 39 goals in all competitions this season.

Tottenham’s attack is led by Harry Kane, who has progressed through their academy set-up to become England's captain, and is on 21 goals in all competitions this season. Kane stars alongside Son Heung-min, on 18 goals this term, in front of Erik Lamela, Lucas Moura, Dele Alli and Steven Bergwijn, who was signed from PSV Eindhoven in January.

Hugo Lloris, who won the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France, is Spurs' first-choice goalkeeper, who recently started behind Serge Aurier, Davinson Sánchez, Toby Alderweireld and Ben Davies in defence.

In the summer, Spurs signed Tanguy Ndombélé for a reported fee of over £54M from Lyon, as well as Ryan Sessegnon from Fulham and Giovani Lo Celso, initially on loan from La Liga side Real Betis.

Over the winter window, José Mourinho's first in north London, Lo Celso made his loan move permanent, while a reported £27M fee was spent on securing Bergwijn's services.

In last week's 3-1 victory at Newcastle United, the Spurs line-up was: Lloris; Aurier, Sánchez, Alderweireld, Davies; Sissoko, Winks, Lo Celso, Moura; Son, Kane.

The trophy cabinet

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2008 League Cup winners
2008 League Cup winners

Defender Jonathan Woodgate scored a 94th-minute winner in extra-time to help Spurs lift the League Cup in 2008.

Only Manchester United and Arsenal have won more FA Cup trophies than Tottenham, who have eight titles to their name, with their last coming in 1991.

They have lifted the League Cup on four occasions, beating Leicester in the final at Wembley Stadium in 1999, while they defeated Chelsea in 2008 for their last title. On the European front, they have claimed two UEFA Cups, in 1972 and 1984, as well as a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963. Last summer, Spurs were beaten by Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League Final.

Two first division titles came in 1951 and a decade later in 1961, meanwhile, and they have also won two second tier titles, in 1920 and 1950.

The stadium

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Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is one of the most impressive grounds in the Premier League.

After a spell at Wembley Stadium, following their move from White Hart Lane, Spurs played their first competitive game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against Crystal Palace on 3 April, 2019.

They won the fixture 2-0, thanks to goals from South Korea international Son Heung-min and Denmark playmaker Christian Eriksen, who is now at Inter Milan in Italy. The official capacity of the ground is just over 62,000, boasting the third-highest of an English football club behind Old Trafford (Manchester United) and London Stadium (West Ham United).

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is regarded as one of the most lavish venues in world football and can be transformed to host NFL London Games and music concerts.

It features the world's first dividing, retractable football pitch, which reveals a synthetic turf pitch, beneath a stunning asymmetric bowl design, including an enormous single-tier south stand.

Sunday's fixture will be City's first visit to the new venue.

The fixtures

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Harry Kane
Harry Kane

England striker Kane scored a brace in a 3-1 win at Newcastle on Wednesday.

Spurs head into the clash with Leicester in good form, following a disappointing loss at Sheffield United and draw at AFC Bournemouth with wins over London rivals Arsenal and then Newcastle. José Mourinho's side are currently seventh in the Premier League, one point behind Nuno Espírito Santo's Wolverhampton Wanderers, with an identical goal difference of +11.

After tackling the Foxes at home on Sunday (4pm kick-off), Spurs travel to London rivals Crystal Palace on the final day of the season, on Sunday 26 July, for a 4pm kick-off against the Eagles.

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