Tottenham Boss Mauricio Pochettino Will Be Premier League Manager of the Year

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has never been afraid to spend heavily in his attempts to turn his team into a regular contender at the top of the Premier League food chain. 

Significant sums have been spent on players, stadium upgrades and a state-of-the-art training centre. 

It is gradually becoming clear that one of the best deals he has struck in his time in charge of Spurs was the compensation sent to Southampton in 2014 to acquire manager Mauricio Pochettino. 

Pochettino cost Tottenham £2 million, per John Percy of the Telegraph, and was handed a five-year deal. These are significant figures but now appear to be something of a bargain. 

In his first season in charge, Pochettino was clearly in the early stages of a long-term project. 

He took the time to test out his entire, rather bloated, squad and identify the players that suited his system, those that could be coached into playing his way and those that had no future at the club. 

Even Christian Eriksen, the only player acquired with the proceeds of the Gareth Bale transfer fee to have proven himself in the previous season, was forced to fight for his starting place.

Club captain Younes Kaboul was given opportunities but proved himself incapable of the required standard and was largely omitted from the first team. 

Pochettino demanded excessively high fitness levels while working with his players on their individual roles within his cohesive system. 

Some blossomed. Danny Rose and Ryan Mason both enjoyed excellent seasons. Others wilted under the pressure. Aaron Lennon and Emmanuel Adebayor started on the opening day but were quickly found wanting. 

Pochettino's team produced a handful of astonishing performances but clearly remained a work in progress at the end of his first season. 

In this campaign, Pochettino's team have taken major steps forward in almost every department. 

Most Spurs fans haven't seen a defence so miserly in their lives. 

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

The acquisition of Toby Alderweireld seemed an obvious move from the outside, but Pochettino has given him the necessary tools for success. Alongside Belgian international team-mate Jan Vertonghen and behind burgeoning England star Eric Dier, Alderweireld has shone. 

Dier's own star is rising at a great rate with countryman Dele Alli beside him. 

Pochettino took an untried teenager and a 21-year-old central defender and built the best central-midfield partnership in England. Alli and Dier are at the core of everything that Spurs do well. 

Last season's preferred midfield pairing of Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb have spent much of the season on the treatment table. That fact would escape all but the keenest of observers so good have their successors been. 

Pochettino's successes with Alli and Dier are almost reason enough for him to be considered the best manager of the season so far, but it goes beyond that. 

He comfortably handled Harry Kane's perceived form slump, carefully integrated new signing Heung-Min Son into his team and dealt with long-term injuries to three of last season's most used players in Mason, Alli and Nacer Chadli. Through that adversity, Spurs are fifth and unbeaten since August. 

Only Leicester are in better form, but Tottenham's last six fixtures have included Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. Pochettino has his team on the verge of something special. 

This young team that has been cultivated in his image fight for every inch. They run harder and with greater intelligence than their rivals. It is a squad believing entirely in a manager. 

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

Pochettino's own self-belief was evident when, during the summer transfer window, he chose not to sign Charlie Austin. The Queens Park Rangers striker is a fine player with a great scoring record and would certainly have been available following his team's relegation, but he does not suit the style of football that the Spurs boss demands of his players. 

He preferred to enter the season with only one recognised striker.

That self confidence has influenced his players and, so far, has been proven well founded.

Without over-reliance on one star player, Spurs are poised to force their way into the Premier League's top four. Based on what they have already achieved this season, anything less would be a disappointment. 

They have faced the best that the division has to offer and have not been found wanting. 

Significantly better than Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City when they faced them, Tottenham have demolished previous expectations and erected towering new ones in their place.

That is what the Argentinian has built in just over 18 months in charge at White Hart Lane.