Martin Jol has been linked to the vacant coach's job at Tottenham as part of the club's revamped set-up. BBC Sport has learned that RKC Waalwijk coach Jol may have joined the wanted list as new director of sports Frank Arnesen looks for a first-team coach.
Although little known in this country, Jol is highly-rated in Holland and was approached by Manchester United earlier in the season.
Jol formerly played in England for Coventry and West Brom.
During a playing career that began with home town club Den Haag, and then took in Bayern Munich, FC Twente, West Brom and Coventry before returning to Den Haag, Jol won three international caps for Holland.
He began his coaching career with amateurs ADO den Haag in 1991 before taking up his first role with a professional outfit at Scheveningen in 1995.
In 1996 he was appointed as coach at Roda JC before moving to Waalwijk in 1998.
Jol has been very successful in keeping the small provincial club in Holland's Eriedivisie, and earned himself a reputation for developing promising young players in teams that play attractive football.
His feats in Holland would have brought him to the attention of Spurs' new director of sports, Arnesen.
Arnesen revealed that his first task at White Hart Lane would be to help find a new coach.
Jol would also be comfortable into the sort of first-team role that Tottenham are trying to bring in under their revamped, continental style coaching set-up.
This would leave him with hands-on responsibillity for first-team coaching matters, with Arnesen dealing with the recruitment of players.
Former Spurs director of football David Pleat admitted as he left office that the club could be close to naming their new man.
Pleat said: "I think they are closer than they were.
"We had a setback during the season on the decision-making process but they are close."
MMIX
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