"I didn't feel I needed the rest. There was a lot of untapped energy in me," he said. "Whereas after six months (following the sack from the FA) I felt, 'Well, I'm not itching to get back in yet', but after about nine months I was more interested in football. I would make sure I got the results whereas in the first six months it didn't bother me if I had seen football or not and I felt that was really weird for me."
After England he went on to quit Southampton, then in the Premiership, as Spurs lured him to White Hart Lane.
"I didn't realise it would have the impact on the (Saints) supporters because I perhaps naively thought they would understand Tottenham was the only club I would leave for at that stage. Tottenham was in my blood. From eight years of age I was a Spurs fan, and I played for them for 13 years. I don't think people at Southampton, even Rupert [Lowe], who I had a good relationship with, ever really understood."
Although Hoddle points out the club "have had a smashing season" under Martin Jol, he blames Tottenham for his failing as manager more than he himself, which is backed up by there not having been a sudden rise in fortune at the club after his dismissal.
Hoddle added: "There was a lot of hurdles to overcome, internally that weren't right for the club. Then after I left they ended up going downhill anyway."
Source: The Guardian