MAR 27 – Conte called Spurs players “selfish” and criticized the club’s culture in a high-profile news conference after their recent draw at Southampton.
Tottenham are fourth in the top flight but are out of all cup competitions.
Conte’s assistant Cristian Stellini will take over as head coach for the remainder of the season, with former midfielder Ryan Mason serving as a backup.
“We have 10 Premier League games left and we have a fight on our hands for a Champions League place,” chairman Daniel Levy said.
“We must all come together. Everyone must step up to ensure the best possible result for our club and our incredible and loyal fans.”
His departure means Spurs are searching for their fourth permanent manager in four years since Mauricio Pochettino left in 2019.
They suffered a tame exit against AC Milan in the Champions League in early March, after Championship side Sheffield United knocked them out of the FA Cup earlier in the month.
Italian Conte, who had won league titles with former clubs Chelsea, Juventus and Inter Milan, was appointed in November 2021 after Spurs sacked Nuno Espirito Santo.
They struggled for consistency for much of their initial tenure before a six game unbeaten run, including a 3–0 win over rivals Arsenal, secured a top four finish.
But Tottenham’s woes have continued this season with nine losses and four draws in 28 league games and doubts about style of play.
Conte’s Spurs were heavily booed after a 0-0 draw against Milan resulted in a 1-0 defeat on aggregate and doomed the club to another trophy-less campaign.
In his last game in charge, Tottenham blew a 3-1 lead to draw against struggling Southampton on March 18, and Conte launched a furious criticism of his players and the club after the match.
“The story of Tottenham is this: there has been this owner for 20 years and he has never won anything. Why?” Conte said.
“Until now I try to hide the situation, but not now because, I repeat, I don’t want to see what I have seen today because this is unacceptable and also unacceptable for the fans.”
Tottenham have won a trophy since the ownership group chaired by Levy took over the club in 2001, the League Cup in 2008, and have had 11 different managers.
This season has also seen Conte requiring gallbladder surgery in February.
He was absent for a win over Manchester City on 5 February and, after briefly returning for two games, he missed another four games to focus on his recovery in Italy, with Stellini in charge in his place.
Three close friends of Conte, Spurs physical trainer Gian Piero Ventrone, Sinisa Mihajlovic and Gianluca Vialli, all have died in the last few months.
