Fabio Capello has been installed as the early favourite to take over at Tottenham – but Mauricio Pochettino and former Saints boss Glenn Hoddle are also among the names linked with the job.

Andre Villas-Boas lost his job as Spurs manager yesterday morning in the wake of a 5-0 home drubbing by Liverpool, with Spurs still failing to adjust to life without Gareth Bale.

All eyes are now on White Hart Lane chairman Daniel Levy to see who the new man in charge will be and whether he will arrive in time for the trip to take on Saints at St Mary’s on Sunday.

Saints boss Pochettino has been mentioned as a possible candidate after his success at Saints, but that seems a very long shot indeed with the manager and the club committed to progressing together.

Pochettino displayed his fierce loyalty in the summer when he stated that he would leave the club if Nicola Cortese did not stay on as executive chairman and that commitment is likely to keep him at Saints for some time.

He was quizzed by journalists after the draw against Manchester City as to what he would do if he were offered another job by a good club but replied that he was under contract this season and next at Saints and spoke of the project they are happily developing.

Even the bookies are pessimistic, pricing him as long as 20-1 for the job.

Villas-Boas was helped in the transfer market by technical director Franco Baldini, the Italian most commonly known for his work with Capello during his time in charge of England.

Russia manager Capello was at White Hart Lane on Sunday and heads the early betting for the job.

While Capello may be the favourite, former Spurs striker Gary Lineker wants Hoddle to get the nod.

Hoddle – a Tottenham great as a player – managed the club between 2001 and 2003, after quitting Saints to move to White Hart Lane, but has been out of management since he left Wolves in 2006.

But Lineker feels that now is the time for him to make a return.

England’s record goalscorer wrote on Twitter: “AVB has been sacked by Spurs. Would love to see Glenn Hoddle given another chance at this level. Has a brilliant football mind.”

Villas-Boas watched on as Spurs were beaten 5-0 by Liverpool, just three weeks after a six-goal thrashing at Manchester City.

That loss at the Etihad Stadium prompted former Spurs chairman Lord Sugar to call for the Portuguese to be sacked and Sir Alex Ferguson to be appointed.

Sugar had scaled down his expectations on Monday, though, tweeting: “Spurs need to put Les Ferdinand and Tim Sherwood in charge for a while.”