Roberto De Zerbi has been announced as Tottenham’s new manager, as they look to avoid the real possibility of Premier League relegation.
The Italian arrives in north London as their manager of the season following the dismissals of Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor this year – with the latter having joined on an interim basis.
De Zerbi has signed a five-year deal at Spurs, following talks, with his first remit to maintain their top-flight status. It has been reported that the 46-year-old, who has managed in England before with Brighton, has no relegation clause in his contract should Tottenham go down.
‘I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world,’ he told the club’s official website.
‘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.”
Sporting director, Johan Lange, said: ‘Roberto was our No 1 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.’
Roberto De Zerbi with it all to do
De Zerbi replaces Tudor who left Tottenham by mutual consent on Sunday. Tudor was only appointed on Valentine’s Day following the sacking of Frank, but failed to address Tottenham’s alarming form, and he also found out his father passed away after Spurs’ last game.
The Croatian presided over four consecutive league defeats at the start of his brief tenure, before earning a late draw at current champions Liverpool on March 15.
However, a week later he saw his side lose 3-0 at home to relegation-threatened rivals Nottingham Forest, which proved the final straw.
His five Premier League games in charge yielded four defeats and one draw, with the 47-year-old leaving Spurs just one point and place above the drop zone in 17th on 30 points.
Bitter rivals West Ham are 18th on 29 points – with both teams having seven games left.
Spurs will now hope De Zerbi – who left Marseille last month – can save them from the drop.
Tudor’s short spell also saw Tottenham get knocked out of the Champions League last 16 after losing 7-5 on aggregate to Atletico Madrid.
The north London outfit were thumped 5-2 in the first leg in Spain before restoring some pride with a 3-2 victory on Wednesday – Tudor’s sole victory.
He seemingly alienated his group of players during his stint in charge, with the decision to hook young Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky after just 17 minutes – having committed two glaring errors in the 5-2 loss at Atletico – drawing criticism.
His departure means he lasted just 44 days in the north London hotseat.
Tudor was seen as someone who fitted the Spurs brief with vast experience and a reputation for making an impact at short notice. However, that wasn’t to be.
Tottenham’s seven remaining Premier League games this season
De Zerbi’s first game in charge will involve a trip to Sunderland (April 12) before ending the month with a home match against Brighton (April 18) and then travelling to Wolves (April 25).
His May begins with a trip to Champions League chasing Aston Villa (May 2) before a home encounter with Leeds (May 9). Spurs then make the short trip across to west London to face bitter rivals Chelsea (May 17) before ending the season at home to Everton (May 24).
If Tottenham were to get relegated it would be the first time they have dropped down from the top flight since 1977.
