Andre Villas-Boas Looking To Make An Impact At Tottenham

Andre Villas-Boas has been counting down to the days to the dawn of the new Premier League season ever since his appointment back at the start of July. The Portuguese coach is now less than two weeks away from making his official return to the dugout, where he will be charged with continuing the outstanding work started by former Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp. AVB’s appointment came just four months after he was sacked by Chelsea, who went on to win the Champions League and FA Cup double under caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo. Now, in different circumstances but with the same degree of pressure, he will look to erase the painful memories of last season and have a blinding debut campaign in charge of Spurs.

It is no secret that AVB has a lot to prove, to both himself and his critics. While at Porto he developed a deserving reputation as a master technician, however, this view was ruptured just nine months into his spell at Chelsea, with reports of player unrest combined with a string of disappointing results ultimately costing him his job. The 34-year-old has a long - and no doubt successful - career in management ahead of him but he will now be looking to make an instant impact at Spurs in order to prove to those who doubted him that he has the character, determination and resolve to make his mark in England.

AVB may be hoping to get off to the perfect start but he has been dealt a tricky opening fixture away to Newcastle on August 18th.  Spurs then face West Brom a week later at White Hart Lane, with matches against Norwich, Reading, QPR and Man Utd following in September. Sky Bet have priced AVB at 7/1 to win August or September Manager of the month, while he is available at 20/1 to get off to a disastrous start and fail to win his first four games in charge.

Other key dates in the AVB diary include October 20th, when he comes up against former side Chelsea at White Hart Lane, while he makes his eagerly anticipated return to Stamford Bridge on April 13th. AVB is priced at 14/1 to get the better of The Blues on both occasions, with Tottenham available at 2/1 to finish higher than their London rivals in the Premier League, which is something they achieved last season. Tottenham will be aiming for another top four finish, for which they are 7/4 to do so, while AVB can be backed at 3/1 to win a major trophy next season.

Andre Villas Boas Tottenham 2012/13 Specials

• 14/1 - Beat Chelsea in both League games
• 20/1 - Beat Chelsea in a cup tie
• 2/1 - Finish higher in the League than Chelsea
• 4/11 - Finish lower in the League than Chelsea
• 4/11 - Still Spurs manager in June 2013
• 2/1 - Not Spurs manager in June 2013
• 7/1 - AVB to win August or September Manager of the month
• 3/1 - AVB to win a major trophy next season

Odds courtesy of Sky Bet.