Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy had been eager to prise Brendan Rodgers away from Leicester City before turning to Jose Mourinho, it has been revealed.
The Daily Mail says Levy enquired about Leicester boss Rodgers but was told prising him away from the King Power Stadium would be impossible, so he turned instead to Mourinho.
The Spurs job was one that Mourinho was holding out for as he plotted his return to football after being sacked by Manchester United in December.
Mourinho's eagerness ensured landing him would be much more straightforward than trying to get Rodgers.
Spurs also decided Julian Nagelsmann, RB Leipzig's impressive, rising young manager would be too hard to land now, having only moved clubs in the summer.