Roberto De Zerbi has been appointed as Tottenham Hotspur's new head coach on a long-term contract, tasked with keeping the club in the Premier League while building a team capable of 'great achievements'. The Italian replaces Igor Tudor, who lasted just 44 days in the role after securing only one point from five league matches.
De Zerbi, who has been out of work since leaving Marseille in February, previously impressed at Brighton & Hove Albion between 2022 and 2024 with his attacking style of play. Tottenham's hierarchy have made clear their ambition to return to the club's former glories, including regular Champions League football and silverware, despite two difficult domestic seasons.
Speaking on his appointment, De Zerbi said: 'I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world. 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.'
However, the immediate priority is survival, with Tottenham just one point above the relegation zone and without a league win in 2026. Their last outing saw a 3-0 defeat to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest. De Zerbi acknowledged: '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.'
Former Brighton striker Neal Maupay, who played under De Zerbi, warned that the new boss's methods will take time to implement, telling Sky Sports News: 'What he wants to do will take time!' De Zerbi's contract is understood to include a relegation clause, reflecting the precarious position Tottenham find themselves in.
