Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Martin Jol has praised Chris Hughton ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion’s visit.
Tottenham Hotspur welcome one of their favourite sons on Wednesday as Chris Hughton brings his Brighton & Hove Albion side to Wembley for Premier League action.
Hughton spent 27 years at Spurs as a player or coach, including three as assistant manager to Martin Jol, who could not speak highly enough of his old friend in an interview with ESPN.
The Jol-Hughton team lifted Tottenham back into the top six and are rightfully credited with having laid the foundations for the progress Spurs are now seeing under Mauricio Pochettino.
The Dutchman has revealed that Hughton always showed an aptitude for becoming a number one by working very closely with the players from a man-management perspective.
Jol told ESPN: “[When I got the job] it wasn’t for me to say: ‘OK I want my own assistant’ because I knew ‘Chrissy’ – we had worked together for three months. I didn’t even have to ask him. It was a natural thing.
“He’s more like a manager [than me] – I was a coach. Harry Redknapp and [Sir Alex] Ferguson – they’re more English-style managers and Chris was educated like that. He was very hands on. He’s firm, he’s fair.”
Jol added: “You can’t wish for a better man next to you. He’s second to none.”
Hughton has gone on make a successful transition to the managerial hotseat, earning promotions with Newcastle United and the much-less fancied Brighton either side of spells at Birmingham City and Norwich City.
His Seagulls are experiencing their first Premier League rut ahead of their trip to Spurs, going five games without a win to drop to 13th in the table, four points above the relegation zone.
Regardless of the result at Wembley, Hughton will always be remembered fondly by Spurs supporters.
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