Speaking through a translator, Santini said: "My contract with the French FA expires on 30 June and I'd decided that I needed a final decision before we went to Portugal next week. The offer from Tottenham initiated by Arnesen was sufficiently precise and interesting to lead to an interview with Levy last weekend and then to an agreement.
"I would have, without doubt, considered with pleasure a new deal with Les Bleus because the squad is so strong, talented and ambitious. The circumstances did not allow this and I have no pointless regrets nor bitterness towards anyone."
So what sort of man are Tottenham getting? When the French squad gathered in August 2002 to play against Tunisia in their first international after what was for them a disastrous World Cup, there was one question which featured prominently among the players as the debate turned to the new manager. "Jacques Who?" was the sentiment among many of them.
Not any more. Everyone is aware of the character and the philosophy of the man who has guided France to the finals of Euro 2004 with an unblemished record in the qualifying games.
That reflects accurately what the 52-year-old clearly demands - total commitment.
The job at Spurs will certainly not intimidate him. Neither will the prospect of dealing with highly paid, if underachieving players.
Santini is a man you upset at your peril. He has an elephant-like memory and never forgets anyone who has crossed him.
"He never forgives, never," said an informed source in France today. "He does not shy away from difficult decisions. He does not care who he upsets."
Well documented cases in recent years concern Nicolas Anelka and Emmanuel Petit. Neither returned to the national team after criticising him.
Santini enjoyed more fame as a coach than a player. At 17, he joined St-Etienne just when they were about to embark on a golden era. A busy, inventive midfield player, his career was stunted by the presence of Jean-Michel Larque and the signing of Michel Platini. He spent too much time on the bench for his liking, although it could have been so different but for the width of a crossbar at Hampden Park in the 1976 European Cup Final against Bayern Munich.
Santini began his coaching career at Third Division side Lisieux but came to prominence at Lyon where he took the team to the league cup win in his first season and the championship in his second, 2001-02. And it was to Santini the French Football Federation turned that year when Roger Lemerre's reign came to an abrupt end on the back of the World Cup failure in South Korea and Japan.
Santini has, by all accounts, gained the respect of the dressing room, which is no mean feat when it contains high-profile performers such as Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Lilian Thuram, Robert Pires and Fabien Barthez.
There are bound to be comparisons between Santini and Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.
Both are French, both were relatively unknown in England and both served their apprenticeship in the lower leagues.
There is also one further remarkable coincidence. In Wenger's home village near Strasbourg, the family restaurant was used as the meeting point for the local football team.
In the village of Fesches-le-Chatel, near Sochaux, Santini's family ran the local bar which was used as the base for the local team.
There is, however, one crucial difference. On arrival, Wenger's English was immaculate and that was a considerable benefit in dealing with the players and the media. Santini's mastery of the language is limited to say the least.
