Tottenham Hotspur's plan to appoint Mauricio Pochettino in the summer has hit a snag after Robbie Keane ruled out an interim managerial role. The club had considered the former Spurs striker as a temporary replacement for Thomas Frank, who was sacked on Wednesday after a poor run of results.
Frank, who joined from Brentford last summer, leaves Tottenham 17th in the Premier League, just five points above the relegation zone, with only seven wins all season. The club is now exploring options for a short-term appointment until the end of the campaign before pursuing Pochettino, currently head coach of the USA national team, after the World Cup.
However, Keane, who has impressed as head coach of Hungarian side Ferencvaros, is not prepared to leave his post for a caretaker role. The 45-year-old signed a contract extension in December after winning the Hungarian title last season. He spent eight years as a player at Tottenham and would be interested in the permanent job, but not an interim one.
Another name in the frame is former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, who is without a club after leaving Marseille earlier this week. The Italian is also linked with Manchester United, though it remains unclear if he is ready to return to work immediately.
Tottenham are keen to have a new manager in place by Monday as they look to steady the ship. The club's preference for an external interim appointment now appears complicated, with Pochettino the long-term target but Keane's refusal narrowing the options.
