5 Potential Replacements for AVB at Tottenham If He Goes Before Christmas

Andre Villas-Boas' Tottenham have started their Premier League campaign with a not-so-flying start, securing only two points out of a possible nine, with an opening day loss to Newcastle and draws to West Brom and Norwich.

Many fans will remember AVB's nightmare campaign with Chelsea, in which his team posted a 19-11-10 record with him at the helm. It was this unimpressive stint with the Blues that raised many eyebrows when he was appointed Spurs boss.

While it's way too early to be calling for Villas-Boas' head, the lackluster start to the season has disappointed a lot of Spurs fans, prompting a Twitter chant of "You're just a young Juande Ramos."

AVB is one of the managers on the early hot seat, so let's take a look at five replacements for the young Portuguese manager should he be sacked by Christmas. 

Sven-Goran Eriksson

Sven-Goran Eriksson is no stranger to the English game, having managed Manchester City (before the money overhaul), the England national team and, most recently, Leicester City in the English Championship. 

Currently, the Swede is technical director at Thai club BEC Tero Sasana (via BBC Sport), having just signed on with the two-time Thai champions earlier this month. 

If the right offer came in from English football, however, then one can't imagine the Swede would it down.

Diego Maradona

Why not? The spitfire Argentine would certainly bring a huge boost of energy to a limp Spurs side and, love him or hate him, the man knows football.

Having been sacked in July from his post at United Arab Emirates side Al Wasl due to the entire club board resigning after a trophyless season (via BBC Sport), Maradona is currently looking for a job. 

Having led Argentina into the knockout rounds of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Diego Maradona knows how to develop young players and utilize established veterans—something AVB struggles with. 

It would be an interesting hire, to say the least. 

Alan Curbishley

Alan Curbishley is also—still—looking for a job. 

While the former West Ham and Charlton Athletic manager isn't anyone's favorite pick to succeed AVB, Curbishley would provide a certain amount of stability to a side that needs a steady guiding force. 

Rafa Benitez

Rafa Benitez enjoyed a relatively successful spell with Liverpool, winning a Champions League title and an FA Cup before leaving the club in 2010. 

The Spaniard enjoyed a not-so-successful spell with Italian giants Inter Milan after that, lasting only a season. 

Benitez is a brilliant tactician and a calm entity on the sidelines, and he knows the English game after his spell with Liverpool.

Tottenham could be a really good fit for the unemployed Spaniard. 

David Moyes

It seems as if David Moyes is linked to every Premier League job when it opens up, so it's likely he will be linked if AVB gets the sack.

Moyes has done brilliant things on Merseyside and has attracted interest from all over the league in his long tenure as Everton boss. 

Even though Moyes is slowly becoming the other Sir Alex Ferguson in terms of managerial longevity, don't be surprised if he is approached by Daniel Levy if/when AVB leaves the club.