A New Era at Spurs: De Zerbi Appointed Amidst Crisis

"I want to keep the ball. I want to see again the Tottenham I watched with Postecoglou." — Roberto De Zerbi

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has appointed Roberto De Zerbi as its head coach, the club's fourth managerial change within nine months. De Zerbi, who signed a contract through 2031, takes charge with the team in 18th position in the Premier League, one point above the relegation zone with seven matches remaining.

Managerial Carousel

De Zerbi succeeds Igor Tudor, who departed by mutual consent after a 44-day tenure spanning seven matches. Tudor was appointed in February 2026 following the dismissal of Thomas Frank, who had replaced Ange Postecoglou at the start of the 2025-26 season.

Ange Postecoglou (2023-2025)

Postecoglou managed Tottenham for two seasons. In his first season, the team finished fifth in the Premier League. In his second season, the club won the UEFA Europa League, ending a 17-year trophy drought. However, the team also finished 17th in the Premier League, resulting in Postecoglou's dismissal.

Following his departure, Postecoglou made comments characterizing Tottenham as "not a big club" in terms of wage structure and player acquisition. He stated the club's actions were the "antithesis" of its "To Dare Is To Do" motto and suggested a lack of risk-taking required for success. These remarks generated divided reactions from pundits and former players.

Thomas Frank (June 2025 - February 2026)

Thomas Frank was appointed in June 2025 on a three-year contract after Tottenham paid £6.7 million in compensation to Brentford. Under his management, the team recorded 12 wins in 31 matches across all competitions (38.7% win rate) and won only two of their last 17 league matches. The club reported 11-12 injuries within the squad during this period. Frank was dismissed following a 2-1 loss to Newcastle, with the club positioned 16th in the league.

Igor Tudor (February 2026 - March 2026)

Igor Tudor was appointed as interim manager in February 2026 for the remainder of the season. His tenure lasted 44 days and included seven matches, of which the team lost five. Tudor's sole victory was a 3-2 win over Atlético Madrid, which was insufficient to overturn a 5-2 first-leg deficit in the Champions League Round of 16. The team exited the Champions League and experienced a six-match losing streak, the longest in the club's history. Tudor's appointment ended following a 3-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest on March 22. The club acknowledged Tudor's recent bereavement following the death of his father.

During Tudor's tenure, goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was substituted in the 17th minute of the Champions League match against Atlético Madrid after making two errors leading to goals. Tudor described the decision as "necessary to preserve the guy, preserve the team" and stated, "It's never about one player." Reports indicated that player confidence in Tudor diminished following the incident.

Current League Position

Tottenham has not secured a Premier League victory since late December 2025.

The team's league record includes 13 matches without a win. As of De Zerbi's appointment, the club holds 29 points from 31 matches. West Ham United occupies 17th place, with Nottingham Forest in 16th. The club has competed in the top flight of English football continuously since the 1977-78 season and has not been relegated from the Premier League since its establishment in 1992.

Appointment of Roberto De Zerbi

Manager's Statements

De Zerbi stated his intention to remain at Tottenham "for a long time" and to eventually position the club at the top of the Premier League. He identified the immediate priority as securing the team's Premier League status for the following season.

On playing style, De Zerbi said: "I want to keep the ball. I want to see again the Tottenham I watched with Postecoglou." He described Postecoglou's Tottenham as "one of the best teams in terms of quality of play." Due to limited preparation time, De Zerbi stated he is focusing on conveying "two or three, not too many ideas" to the players.

De Zerbi identified the mental aspect of the game as crucial, stating: "The most important part in football is the mental part." He cited recent performances, including a draw against Liverpool and a Champions League win against Atlético Madrid, as encouraging signs.

Fan Response

Several Tottenham supporter groups, including Proud Lilywhites and Women of the Lane, released statements opposing De Zerbi's appointment. The opposition was linked to comments De Zerbi made about Mason Greenwood while managing Marseille. Greenwood faced criminal charges in 2022, including attempted rape and assault, which were discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service in February 2023. Greenwood denied the charges.

De Zerbi previously described Greenwood as "a good lad" who had "paid in a strong way for what happened." In response to the backlash, De Zerbi stated: "I wasn't surprised. I was a bit sad and sorry it happened, because I'm sorry if somebody took offence." He added: "I have always been against – always – any type of violence, especially against women." De Zerbi stated he does not intend to comment further on the topic.

Upcoming Fixtures

De Zerbi's first match in charge will be against Sunderland on April 12.