Jol claims inspiration from Wenger

MARTIN JOL aims to follow his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger and make his name as a coach in English football.

Jol admires the Frenchman's achievements at Highbury and believes he can learn from the example Wenger has set, despite Tottenham currently standing clear of their rivals in the Barclays Premiership.

The two clubs meet in the north London derby at White Hart Lane today with the home side currently sitting in third, five places ahead of the Gunners.

Jol was given the task of turning Spurs into a top-flight force once more after the abrupt departure of French coach Jacques Santini last season, and his coaching methods have been an instant hit with the Spurs squad he has built.

His encouraging start to coaching in England has led to Spurs being tipped for a place in next season's Champions League, his chance to become a "big name" in management.

"Arsene is an example of a coach who came to England to make his name," says Jol. "I'm a bit like that too. Some clubs look for the best coach. Jose Mourinho won the Champions League and the UEFA Cup so Roman Abramovich says: 'He's the best. I'll take him.'

"Arsene was different. He'd coached in Japan and France but he wasn't famous globally. He didn't have a big name. He had to make his reputation and he did that when he arrived here.

"When Spurs asked me to come here I had a reputation as a coach in Holland but I wasn't a big name. I felt I had to make my name here just as Arsene had done. I think he's now one of the best team-builders in Europe."

Jol has invested in a crop of youngsters and believes his policy will benefit the club in the long term, even if Spurs will not challenge for the title immediately.

"It is the only way to get very good players on board who are young and can cope with the mentality of the Premiership," explained Jol.

"Most of the youngsters we bought were playing in the Championship. The only thing you can hope for is that they deliver. Players like Michael Carrick, who came from West Ham and who maybe wasn't happy playing in the Championship, has been second to none in his position ever since the first match he played for us."

The Dutchman says he will always look towards British players when he needs to strengthen his squad after realising from his time as a player in England that you need to have a certain amount of grit as well as talent to succeed in the top flight.

"Buying British is an advantage but it's not the main thing," said Jol. "If we don't have a certain player we always look at Britain. If we can't find the quality we would like to have here, then we would look aboard.

"Arsenal are different. Wenger is French and he knows all the players. If we could identify a Patrick Vieira or Thierry Henry we could do the same as them.

"I could have filled the squad with a lot of Dutch players but I know how difficult it is for them in England. I've been here. If you are only skilful, it is very difficult to play in the Premiership. English players are just right."