By JOEY SAMUEL
After searching for three weeks and considering several big names, Tottenham Hotspur have finally found their man.
The Spurs inked former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas to a three-year deal on Tuesday. Villas-Boas replaces Harry Redknapp, who was fired in June after failing to lead Tottenham back to the Champions League for next season.
Villas-Boas experienced a tumultous season during his time at Chelsea. After joining from FC Porto in June 2011, expectations were high for the young Portuguese manager, who many were hailing as the next Jose Mourinho. But after struggling through much of the season Chelsea let Villas-Boas go in March. Under interim manager Roberto Di Matteo, Chelsea would improve dramatically and end up winning the Champions League and FA Cup.
Now Villas-Boas joins Tottenham, where he will hope to relive something closer to his success at Porto, where he won the Primera Liga, the Portuguese Cup, and the Europa League in just one season with the club.
"Tottenham Hotspur is a great club with a strong tradition and fantastic support, both at home and throughout the world," Villas-Boas said in a press release on Tottenham's website. "I feel privileged to be its coach. For me, this is one of the most exciting coaching positions in the Premier League."
Here are some other stories from around the globe:
SPAIN UNVEILS OLYMPIC ROSTER
Days after winning Euro 2012, Spain have unveiled their roster for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, and three players who helped capture the trophy in Poland and Ukraine will return for the Spanish in their bid for Olympic gold.
Juan Mata, Jordi Alba, and Javi Martinez headline a 22-man preliminary squad that was released Tuesday. Mata and Martinez are two of Spain's over-age players, with Atletico Madrid's Adrian Lopez being the other.
Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea was also called up, along with Barcelona's Cristian Tello, Thiago Alcantara, and Martin Montoya.
BAYERN MUNICH INTERESTED IN KHEDIRA
Sami Khedira was one of the more impressive players during Euro 2012, and the suitors are beginning to line up. The first appears to be German powerhouse Bayern Munich.
Reports out of Spain indicate that Bayern are interested in acquiring Khedira, who has spent the last two seasons at Real Madrid. However, the Spanish champions are only willing to let Khedira go to Munich if Bastian Schweinsteiger would then be allowed to join Madrid, who have been linked with Schweinsteiger in the past.
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have interacted much in the last few years. Madrid sold Arjen Robben to the German side two years ago, and this past season, Munich eliminated Madrid from the Champions League in the semifinals on penalties.
UNION COACH HACKWORTH ELABORATES ON FIRINGS
Late last week, reports emerged that Union sporting director Diego Gutierrez and youth director Alecko Eskandarian had been let go by the club. On Monday, interim head coach John Hackworth confirmed that not only had they been fired, but that the decision had been his.
In a press conference to reporters, Hackworth revealed that Gutierrez and Eskandarian were no longer with the team after being dismissed last week. Gutierrez, in his role as sporting director, had organized the Union's signings of several players from Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama. Eskandarian had been in charge of the Union's youth development program. Now both are gone, and according to Hackworth they have already been replaced.
"The minute that Nick Sakiewicz hired me as team manager, he gave me the final decision," Hackworth said. "Long story short, this was ultimately my decision. We have a lot of skill sets within our current staff and with the changes and workload, it's going to be a big challenge for all of us."
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Will Villas-Boas have success at Tottenham? Do you see Spain capturing yet another major title at the Olympics? Will Khedira end up at Bayern? How will the Union be affected by the staff shake-up?
Share your thoughts below.