Fulham FC: Martin Jol Prepares for His Second Crack at the Premier League

Back now with Fulham FC after nearly three years out of the country, Martin Jol has another chance to make an impact on the English Premier League.

The man who guided Tottenham Hotspur to two consecutive fifth place Premier League finishes and a memorable return to European football in 2006 for the first time in over six years was sacked in October 2007 after months of "secret" overtures to Juande Ramos ended in his dismissal on the grounds that he could take the club no further.

Jol's sacking (along with that of assistant manager Chris Hughton) by the Tottenham hierarchy was both unfair and unwarranted. Regardless of his team's stuttering start to the 2007-08 campaign (again exacerbated by near-constant speculation over his position), the Dutchman's work in his three years in charge should have earned him more time.

Why wasn't he?

One reason was the difficult relationship Jol had with Tottenham's then sporting director Damien Comolli. While the latter helped arrange the signing of some talented players during this period, the Frenchman never quite enjoyed the shared vision his predecessor Frank Arnesen had with Jol.

It was not the sole catalyst for Jol's eventual firing, but it undoubtedly played a part in the perception at the time that Jol was not geared for bringing Champions League football to White Hart Lane.

This was what club chairman Daniel Levy would eventually get, but only after the Ramos misstep and the time it took Harry Redknapp to re-energise a floundering squad.

Had Jol been backed rather than sacked, there has been subsequent evidence to suggest he could have delivered himself. Later in 2007-08, what was essentially his team went onto defeat Arsenal in the semifinals and then Chelsea to win the Carling Cup.

The core of that squad—Michael Dawson, Jermain Defoe, Ledley King, Aaron Lennon, Jermaine Jenas, Gareth Bale, Younes Kaboul, Robbie Keane—would two seasons later all play their part in Tottenham qualifying for the Champions League.

Critics of Jol argue the general failure in his tenure to beat the Premier League's then "Big Four" was evidence he was not capable of breaking Spurs into that group. But there it was; many of the players he had worked with and developed proving they could contend with the division's best.

Jol was not so fortunate as to enjoy the fruits of his effort himself.

The Fulham job Martin Jol now takes over is in many ways the perfect job for the 55-year-old, and in turn, he may be just right for the west Londoners.

It is a challenge that does not bare the intensity of pressure that came with managing Ajax, nor the intrusion and undesired involvement of the higher-ups from his time at Spurs. Mohamed Fayed, like he did with Roy Hodgson, has put his faith in his new coach and given him the run of Craven Cottage.

In Jol, the Fulham supporters have a figurehead they will likely take too very quickly. The former West Brom midfielder is a passionate presence on the touchlines (famous at Spurs for his celebratory bear hugs with his coaching staff!) and also a manager who does not blame outside factors for any of his team's failings.

The image presented by Jol is of an amiable but also serious coach, an impression that went down well with the Tottenham fans and the media in his previous spell in England. Interestingly, he has never been one to be too concerned with winning a popularity contest with his players.

Instead, Jol looks to do what is best for the team, what is best to win games, and this does not always mean making friends.

During the 2004-05 campaign Jermain Defoe was more often than not preferred over Robbie Keane at Spurs, backing up his selection with plenty of goals. When the former lost form the following season, he was replaced by his Irish teammate who hit the ground running and would not look back for almost three years.

Ironically, one player this effected at Spurs is Jol's new club captain Danny Murphy.

The talented midfielder was brought in by Jol after an impressive spell at Charlton Athletic that saw Murphy force his way back into the England reckoning. At Spurs he flattered to deceive despite getting chances to earn a first-team spot and never settled, moving onto Fulham.

In west London, Murphy has excelled, becoming the fulcrum of the Cottagers' positive style of football. Jol has indicated he will remain his captain and is a part of his plans.

In his press conference on Tuesday, the Dutchman spoke of his plans to bring in four or five new additions to the squad, but there is undoubtedly already some talent there that should continue to prosper under their new manager.

Jol is under no illusions that this side is right now guaranteed Premier League football every year. At Spurs, Hamburg and Ajax his sides looked to pass the ball and attack with pace and plenty of movement.

While he will look to employ such tactics at Fulham, the closeness of the division last season emphasised the importance of consistency and solidity in avoiding being dragged into the mire.

As they displayed in their strong finish to the year last season, the likes of Bobby Zamora, Mark Schwarzer, Brede Hangeland and Clint Dempsey are players potentially more than very solid side can be built around. Just who their new manager will look to augment them with remains to be seen.

Fulham may have found a manager with the quality and toughness to continue their impressive progress of recent years, someone up for the challenge of certifying them as a legitimate top-flight club.

Martin Jol may at last have found the club willing to give him the time to do that.