Ramos stands down as Sevilla coach

Juande Ramos hinted that he was set to take charge of Tottenham Hotspur after resigning as coach of UEFA Cup holders Sevilla FC.

'Eternally grateful'
"This has been the hardest decision of my life. My heart remains in Seville but for the sake of my family and career it is impossible not to leave for London," he said on his personal website. "My time at Sevilla has been the most important period of my life personally and professionally. I will be eternally grateful." The 53-year-old Spaniard, who has won five trophies with Sevilla in the last two seasons, has been strongly linked by media reports with a move to Spurs after the London club sacked Dutchman Martin Jol on Thursday.

'Dizzying offer'
Earlier, Sevilla said on their website that Ramos had unilaterally rescinded his contract, which was due to expire at the end of the season. Spurs - who are also expected to appoint Ramos's assistant Marcos Álvarez - were unsuccessful in their attempts to lure Ramos to White Hart Lane two months ago. The coach said he had received a "dizzying offer" from the Premier League club but Sevilla president Jose María del Nido said then that Ramos was committed to another season in Spain.

Honours
Ramos joined Sevilla in 2005 and led them to back-to-back UEFA Cup victories and secured the Copa del Rey in June. They also collected the UEFA Super Cup and the Spanish Super Cup by beating FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF respectively. Their third-place finish in the league last year put them in the UEFA Champions League for the first time, and the Andalusian side sit second in Group H after three games.

To read a full profile of Juande Ramos, click here.