When Southampton appointed Mauricio Pochettino as manager in January 2013, former Saints player and TV pundit Jamie Redknapp called the decision "deluded."

This was understandable as the Argentinian was virtually unknown here, his coaching resume comprising two successful seasons with Espanyol before, amid a financial crisis and a boardroom night of the long knives, Pochettino was sacked in November 2012.

Southampton chairman Nicola Cortese proved far from deluded by bringing "MoPo" to England and the following season Saints finished eighth, their highest Premier League placing. The prospect of joining Tottenham, potentially a huge club but a serial underachiever, saw Pochettino move to White Hart Lane in May 2014.