Andre Villas-Boas: A tactician's evolution

Andre Villas-Boas, manager of Tottenham Hotspur has led his team into Champions League contention. (Getty Images)

4th March 2012. Following a 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion, Andre Villas-Boas was relieved of his managerial duty at Chelsea, bringing an end to their continued defeats and internal conflicts, which were destabilising the London club. Fingers were raised on his capability of managing top flight clubs and his decisions in choosing the first team.

Exactly 3 months later, Tottenham Hotspur announced the signing of Villas-Boas as their new manager, raising eyebrows as to how he would be able to repeat the success Harry Redknapp had with the North London side. But Villas-Boas had other plans in mind. Tottenham are now a side to beat this season with their ferocious approach to the game, it’s a treat to watch how the Spurs players execute the plan laid down by Villas-Boas to cripple opponents. The Portuguese has done wonders to silence all his critics in what is only his second season in the Premier League.

So what exactly has he done at White Hart Lane at the North London side? Is he a coaching genius? Or a great tactician who gets the best out of his players for the best results possible?

Man-management was Villas-Boas’ biggest problem at Chelsea. He was up against the likes of John Terry, Petr Cech, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, who were all about his age. They found it difficult to take orders from him, and he found resistance in the process of getting his plans executed. But we cannot forget the fact that at 33, he was the youngest manager to win a European competition; that season Porto had gone unbeaten and seen off Benfica by 21 points.

When he landed at Spurs, he made sure he had worked on his man-management skills. Better relations with players ensured that he can implement his high-tempo tactics well. There is no better validation of this fact than the way his players embrace him when they find a winner.

He may have signed a number one goalkeeper in Hugo Lloris, but Brad Friedel had been outstanding last season. He made good use of this, letting Friedel keep the woodwork while easing Lloris into the brutal scenario of English football, presenting Lloris in his best form in the league. Besides that, he has also made good use of his players by rotating the squad well and bringing fringe players into the limelight. With an injury to Benoit Assou-Ekotto, he put Jan Vertonghen in the left-back role and let Michael Dawson play the centre-back.

He also helped Sandro and Aaron Lennon achieve their best by giving them ample first team football action. He has made some very quality signings in Sigurdsson, Moussa Dembele, Clint Dempsey, Lloris and Vertonghen. All of whom have helped Spurs with their push for a Champions League spot. His recent signing of Lewis Holtby from Schalke has aptly filled in the void left by Luka Modric’s departure.

All managers make mistakes, the best ones learn quickly from them. In all, Villas-Boas is a man who has actually redefined the modern managerial approach. He still puts in a lot of hours in preparing DVDs of opponents, carrying his notebook to the touchline, plotting vicious strategies against opponents and making himself present in training hours, easing the work of his assistant, besides connecting well with his players personally. He surely is here to stay and here to achieve.