Martin Jol was ultimately buried by the weight of expectation. Even consecutive fifth-place finishes were not good enough for Tottenham Hotspur. He emerged as the latest saviour at White Hart Lane three years ago, but leaves with the club still looking for someone to guide them into the Champions League.

An extremely likeable Dutchman, Jol has been undone by an internal battle with the board and questions being asked about his ability to compete with the big teams. Even his most vehement supporters have been silent of late in a season that has been drifting aimlessly.

When in a cheerful mood, he could be engaging, amusing, with a dry wit. At other times, he could be just plain moody. A former enforcer as a player, Jol cut a stately figure as a manager: tall, with an imposing jaw and a lip that made an intimidating curl at unwanted questions. The receding hairline, expanding waistline, sharp suits, colourful shirts and thick Dutch accent served only to emphasise an air of authority. He was not afraid to mix it with players and opposing managers, such as Arsène Wenger, with whom he nearly came to blows at Highbury two years ago.

Sometimes, though, that confidence would transcend into arrogance, which caused a clash with other bullish personalities inside the club, such as Paul Kemsley, the vice-chairman. One source said the continual friction had left Jol with no allies inside the club.

Jol has had little confidence in Damien Comolli, the sporting director, to sign the right players. The Dutchman is irritated that his demands in the summer for an experienced centre back went unheard.

Tottenham threw away a chance of fourth spot, a position that they had held for five months, long before they were undone by an illness in the final match against West Ham United two years ago. Then they let slip two-goal leads against Arsenal in the Carling Cup semi-finals, Chelsea in the FA Cup sixth round last season and lost to Seville at the same stage of the Uefa Cup. He did remove a millstone when they defeated Chelsea for the first time in the league in 16 years last season, but it was his only victory against a top-four side. He will be judged on not winning silverware for a club whose last trophy was eight years ago.

Even his arrival was a mess. He was appointed as an assistant manager by Frank Arnesen, the Tottenham sporting director at the time, seemingly without the knowledge of Jacques Santini, who had been named as the head coach. Santini then employed his own assistant. When he did become manager, he lost 5-4 to Arsenal in his second league game in charge, one of three league defeats in a row. But he turned things around to finish ninth in 2005.

Jol gained his coaching licence at 25 and set his first foot on the managerial ladder at Scheveningen, a nonleague club on the outskirts of The Hague, before moving to Roda, with whom he won the Dutch Cup in 1997. After two years he took charge at RKC Waalwijk, where he was named Dutch coach of the year in 2001 and 2002. Soon after, he was invited for interview by Sir Alex Ferguson, who was looking for a new assistant at Manchester United.

Jol’s reputation in the Netherlands remains strong. He was interviewed by Ajax two years ago.

Decline and fall: the final days of Jol

Aug 17 Tottenham Hotspur officials hold a clandestine meeting with Juande Ramos, the Seville coach

Aug 20 A damage-limitation exercise starts with an unconvincing vote of confidence and a public apology to Martin Jol from Paul Kemsley, the vice-chairman, but the embarrassment grows when it is revealed that Daniel Levy, the chairman, and Damien Comolli, the club’s sporting director, had also been present at the meeting with Ramos in Spain

Sept 15 Arsenal fans sing, “You’re getting sacked in the morning” to Jol as Spurs lose 3-1 at home to their bitter rivals

Sept 17 Board resolves to give Jol more time amid reports that he has five matches to save his job

Sept 22 Five attempts were made by Levy to contact José Mourinho, while he negotiated his settlement with Chelsea

Sept 26 Spurs deny reports that a £4 million payoff had been agreed with the Dutchman

Oct 1 Younès Kaboul delays the inevitable by scoring an equaliser in the draw with Aston Villa

Oct 17 The club announce record profit before tax – up from £600,000 to £27.7 million.

Oct 22 After defeat by Newcastle and eight league games without a win, Jol insists that he will not resign Words by Kaveh Solhekol

Best of the web

“It was about time. Let’s thank Big Martin Jol for his work at the club and wish him all the best.”
— bbc.co.uk/606

“Jol’s handled himself well throughout this ordeal. The board have acted disgracefully.”
— Football365.com

“I love Martin Jol. Now we’ll get some second-rate Spanish players in and we’ll be booing Ramos in a year or two.”
— thespursweb.com

“Thank you Martin. We’ll remember the baseball caps, your crazy ‘akshent’ and the fifth-place finishes. You’ll always be welcome at the Lane.”
— rivals.net

“Jol is one of the best things to happen to Spurs. He can look like a grumpy sod but he is a good manager. It’s such a shame that the board couldn’t stand by their manager, especially one as good as Jol.”
— bbc.co.uk/606