Tottenham have named France coach Jacques Santini as their new manager.

Santini will take over at White Hart Lane after leading France at EURO 2004.

Speculation about the identity of the next Spurs manager, has been rife in recent weeks with several leading coaches linked with the vacancy. Claudio Ranieri admitted that he was interviewed for the post, but the recently-sacked Chelsea coach preferred a return to Spain with his former club Valencia.

Santini’s future as coach of France has been in doubt for some months following the refusal of the French Footballl Federation to offer him a new contract.

Interviewed earlier this month by World Soccer, the former Lyon coach was asked whether he would still be in charge of the French national team after EURO 2004.

‘Wait and see,’ was his enigmatic reply.