The appointment is an urgent response to the club’s precarious position in the Premier League. Tottenham currently sit one point above the bottom three, facing the threat of their first top-flight relegation since 1977. With only seven games remaining in the season, the board has moved to secure a long-term leader rather than another interim solution, aiming to stabilize the team immediately and build for the future.
De Zerbi replaces Igor Tudor, who departed the interim role on Sunday after a 44-day tenure that yielded no Premier League victories. The club’s form has been dire, with the team going 13 consecutive league matches without a win—a streak that represents Tottenham’s worst run since the 1934-35 season.
In a statement, the club confirmed De Zerbi as their “number one target for the summer,” though the immediate necessity of the relegation battle accelerated the process. “Roberto was our number one target for the summer and we are very pleased to be able to bring him in now,” said Sporting Director Johan Lange. “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.”
De Zerbi, 50, brings a distinct tactical identity to North London. During his tenure at Brighton & Hove Albion, he guided the club to their highest-ever Premier League finish and secured European qualification for the first time in the club’s history. Most recently, he led Olympique de Marseille to a runners-up finish in Ligue 1 for the 2024/25 season, earning them a spot in the UEFA Champions League. Earlier in his career, he managed Shakhtar Donetsk, leading them to the Champions League group stage and the Ukrainian Super Cup.
“I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world,” De Zerbi said upon his appointment. “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.”
The new head coach acknowledged the immediate pressure facing the squad. “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,” he added. “I’m looking forward to getting out on the training pitch and working with these players to achieve that.”
The appointment has not been without controversy. The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust has raised “serious and far-reaching concerns” regarding De Zerbi’s backing of Mason Greenwood during his time at Marseille. Greenwood was charged with attempted rape and assault in 2022, though the Crown Prosecution Service discontinued the case. Supporter groups had urged the club to reconsider the hiring, citing values and safety. Club officials have stated that the board carefully considered these sentiments during the hiring process, and De Zerbi is expected to address the issue directly.
The move also has implications for the club’s future managerial plans. Mauricio Pochettino, who has been touted for a return as the club’s next permanent manager, is currently preparing the United States national team for the World Cup. His contract expires after the tournament. If De Zerbi succeeds in keeping Tottenham in the Premier League, it is widely understood that a Pochettino return would be off the table, cementing De Zerbi’s status as the architect of the club’s next era.
De Zerbi left Marseille in February after a spell described as successful yet turbulent. While he had previously indicated he would not return to management during the season, the severity of Tottenham’s crisis and the club’s insistence on a permanent, long-term commitment appear to have changed his stance. The immediate test for the Italian will be the upcoming fixture at Sunderland, as the club fights to end its winless run and secure its place in the top flight.
