Klinsmann's bigger picture

He may no longer be stepping out in the number 18 shirt that he wore with such distinction during two spells in London, but he remains a very keen observer of events in N17.

"Even though I’m out in California, I can still keep up-to-date because we have all the games on TV," says Jürgen.

"Plus I speak to Gary Mabbutt every couple of weeks and we are always talking about what is happening at White Hart Lane. As neither of us are inside the club, we are talking as fans and discussing things."

Without a permanent manager since the first few weeks of the season, Klinsmann is hoping that the time Tottenham have taken in making their next appointment is an indication that they are thinking long-term.

"Tottenham should use this moment to see the bigger picture," he states. "They need to be looking five or ten years from now and thinking where they want to be as a club and how they are going to fulfil people’s expectations.

"Now is the time to sit back,analyse, and create a new structural environment for the football club.

This is not just about the manager. You can’t think that everything will be solved just by appointing a manager. Modern football clubs need two or three people driving things forward."

Although Klinsmann is a partner in a thriving American ‘soccer’ company which deals with everything from sponsorship to stadia development, those that like to remember him on the pitch will be pleased to know that he is not gone as far as wearing a suit.

"I have a great schedule," he enthuses. "I work with my company, Soccer Solutions, I do some work with MasterCard, I have time for my family and I am also involved on the coaching side with the LA Galaxy, where I give some technical advice to the coaches and work with the players to help them reach the next level in their game."

So could the man with the impeccable footballing pedigree himself be the solution to Spurs’ managerial conundrum?

"While you never know what’s going to happen in the long-term, it’s not going to happen in the short-term," he says, shooting down the dreams of more than a couple of Spurs fans who were still harbouring hopes of another saviour-like Klinsmann return to White Hart Lane.

"The reason we came out to California was because I have two young children - a son of seven and a daughter of two - and we wanted to have an environment for them to grow up in a normal way.

"I can see we have made the right decision when I look at the way my son is so happy. That’s not something I can imagine changing for what might be an interesting professional opportunity."

Now that is the bigger picture.

Jürgen Klinsmann Stat Pack

Date of Birth: 30 July 1964
Place of Birth: Goppingen, Germany)
Height: 181cm
Weight: 76kg