[Indo_Popper]

Out of the Shadows: Jol

Tottenham signed French national manager Jacques Santini as head coach, Martin Jol as his assistant and Frank Arnesen as Sporting Director. Santini quit the club after just 13 games in charge and was replaced by Jol. He acquired striker Mido on an 18-month loan, he was awarded the FA Premiership Manager of the Month for December, and guided the club to a ninth place finish. At the end of the season Frank Arnesen was tapped up by Chelsea, who later paid compensation of around £5 million[citation needed]. Damien Comolli was named the new Sporting Director in September 2005.

During the 2005-06 season Spurs reached first position once and never fell below sixth. They spent six months in fourth place, which was only relinquished to rivals Arsenal on the last day of the season after a defeat to West Ham. The loss was controversial as ten Tottenham players went down with a stomach bug on the day of the match. An attempt to have the game replayed was refused, and Spurs missed out on Champions League football.

The summer of 2006 saw big changes at the club. Internet casino company Mansion signed a four-year sponsorship deal worth £34m, with the kit to be manufactured by Puma until 2010. Mido's loan move was made permanent, and the club also signed Dimitar Berbatov, Didier Zokora, Pascal Chimbonda and Steed Malbranque. Michael Carrick was sold to Manchester United for a club record fee that could rise to £18.6m.

Tottenham entered the penultimate weekend of September 2006 in 17th place. This marks their worst start to a Premiership season for more than a decade.

On 28th September 2006, Tottenham went through to the group stages of the UEFA after a 2-0 aggregate win over Slavia Prague. Spurs won 1-0 on the night after an unconvincing win, after a 1-0 away win in Prague two weeks before. Spurs wore all white, like the kit they wore back in the day when they were one of the top clubs in Europe