Roberto De Zerbi appointed as new Tottenham Hotspur head coach, becomes third Spurs boss of troubled season after Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor exits

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Roberto De Zerbi has become Tottenham Hotspur's third manager of a troubled season. He will now aim to keep the club in the Premier League in the remaining weeks of the campaign, with Spurs currently just a point above the drop zone. The former Brighton & Hove Albion boss follows Igor Tudor, who lasted just seven games after replacing Thomas Frank.

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Roberto De Zerbi has been appointed as the new Tottenham Hotspur head coach.

The 46-year-old has signed a reported five-year deal with the North London club, with no relegation clause included in the contract.

The Italian told the club's official website: "I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world.

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"In all my discussions with the club’s leadership, their ambition for the future has been clear - to build a team capable of reaching great achievements, and to do that playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters.

"I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to deliver it.

"Our short-term priority is to climb the Premier League table, which will be the complete focus until the final whistle of the last game of the season.

"I’m looking forward to getting out on the training pitch and working with these players to achieve that."

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De Zerbi becomes Tottenham's third manager of the campaign and has been brought in with the aim of steering Spurs away from relegation danger in the Premier League.

Igor Tudor replaced Thomas Frank on an interim basis in February, but his reign only lasted 44 days before his departure following a run of just one draw in his five Premier League games.

Tudor's solitary victory - a 3-2 home success in the second leg of his side's UEFA Champions League last 16 tie with Atletico Madrid - ultimately proved academic after the heavy 5-2 reverse in the first leg.

On the same day that Frank was sacked at Spurs - February 11 - De Zerbi left his position as Marseille manager by mutual consent.

The former Brighton boss was appointed manager of the Ligue 1 club in the summer of 2024, and guided the French side to a second-placed finish in his first season in charge.

But his reign ended in disappointment after exiting the Champions League following a 3-0 defeat by Club Brugge, while a 5-0 hammering domestically against Paris Saint-Germain left them in fourth position, 12 points adrift of the defending champions.

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Tottenham currently sit in 17th place, just one point above the drop zone, with seven fixtures remaining.

Bruno Saltor is expected to stay on Tottenham’s coaching team and collaborate with De Zerbi.

The club's next match is at Sunderland on April 12, which is followed by a home meeting with Brighton on April 18 and then a trip to Wolves on April 25.

Tottenham sporting director Johan Lange said: "Roberto was our number one target for the summer, and we are very pleased to be able to bring him in now.

"He is one of the most creative and forward-thinking coaches in world football, and brings with him a wealth of experience at the highest level, including in the Premier League."

Can De Zerbi make instant impact?

Tudor stepped in as Frank’s replacement on a short-term basis with a clear objective - to make an immediate difference.

The combustible Croatian already had significant experience of arriving mid-season, having helped Udinese avoid relegation to Serie B in 2018/19.

He made a comparable impact at Hellas Verona, and more recently led Juventus to Champions League qualification last season after taking charge in March.

De Zerbi has struggled to yield instant success in previous jobs

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Spurs have indicated that De Zerbi was their top target for the summer, meaning they have effectively accelerated those plans in an effort to secure their Premier League survival.

Tottenham are without a league win in 2026, meaning De Zerbi must hit the ground running in his first game in charge at Sunderland. By then, his new side could be in the relegation zone if West Ham beat Wolves two days earlier.

However, De Zerbi’s track record suggests that he has often found it difficult to produce quick turnarounds.

The Italian has taken charge of three clubs during a season, but his results across his opening seven matches in those roles have been underwhelming.

At Palermo in 2016, De Zerbi recorded only one victory before ultimately being dismissed, and he failed to win a single match at Benevento the following year as they dropped out of Serie A.

In 2022, he also endured a slow start at Brighton, with The Seagulls collecting just eight points from his first seven games, although they later went on to secure European qualification.

Analysis from TNT Sports expert Fara Williams

"Spurs need someone who is going to keep them in the league this season.

"Is it the right time to bring in Roberto De Zerbi? We know that he plays with an open and expansive approach, so the question is whether he is going to change the philosophy there in such a short space of time?

"Is he the type of manager who will put his arms around the players? I think he comes across as a personable manager, and he is definitely someone who can get the best out of his players.

"But it will be tough for him because this is a group of players who look so dejected.

"The big positive is that De Zerbi knows the Premier League after he enjoyed some success at Brighton.

"I also believe that the fans need to jump on board with the decision because they are needed more than ever now. I think they need to recognise that.

"It might be best to hold their anger towards the hierarchy until the end of the season when they’ve hopefully managed to avoid relegation.

"The players also need to step up. If they can replicate their European form in their last seven Premier League games, there’s no doubt that they will stay up.

"As a former player, I think it’s so important that current players take full responsibility. As players, we’re the ones who go out on the pitch and need to deliver.

"Looking at Spurs on the whole, they are not in a false position because they were near the bottom of the table last season. They’ve shown that they haven’t been consistent for a two-year spell now, which is the most worrying thing.

"When you look back at the situation in hindsight, Thomas Frank probably didn’t deserve to get sacked. It was crazy for the club to bring in Igor Tudor given his lack of experience in the Premier League.

"Listening to journalists and doing my research on Tudor, he was a strict manager and, as a player, when you’re feeling low and near the bottom of the league, sometimes you need a softer approach.

"However, I don’t feel like Tottenham have players in the squad who are ready to roll up their sleeves and grind out results in their bid to avoid relegation."

Tottenham’s remaining Premier League games

April 12: Sunderland (A)
April 18: Brighton (H)
April 25: Wolves (A)
May 2: Aston Villa (A)
May 9: Leeds (H)
May 17: Chelsea (A)
May 24: Everton (H)

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