Tottenham Appoint Roberto De Zerbi as New Head Coach

Tottenham Hotspur has appointed Roberto De Zerbi as its new head coach, the club's fourth manager in nine months. De Zerbi, who has signed a five-year contract, takes charge with the club in 18th place in the Premier League and seven games remaining in the season.

De Zerbi is Tottenham's fourth head coach since last June, following Ange Postecoglou, Thomas Frank, and Igor Tudor.

Managerial Appointment and Contract

Roberto De Zerbi was appointed as Tottenham Hotspur's head coach, succeeding interim manager Igor Tudor. He has signed a contract with the club that runs until 2031. Multiple sources report the agreement is for five years.

The contract reportedly does not contain a break clause in the event of the club's relegation from the Premier League.

Club's Current League Position

• Tottenham Hotspur occupies 18th place in the Premier League table, which is within the relegation zone.
• The club has seven league matches remaining in the 2025-26 season.
• Tottenham has not won a Premier League match since December and is at risk of relegation for the first time since the 1977-78 season.

De Zerbi's Tactical Approach and Immediate Plans

In his introductory press conference, De Zerbi outlined his philosophy and immediate priorities.

Playing Style: De Zerbi stated his intention to implement a possession-based, attacking style. He referenced the team's performance under former manager Ange Postecoglou as a model, saying, "I want to keep the ball. I want to see again the Tottenham I watched with Postecoglou."

Short-Term Focus: Due to limited preparation time, De Zerbi said he is focusing on conveying a simplified set of ideas to the squad. He stated, "I have no time to think of other things, just football... transferring and finding the best way to transfer my ideas – two or three, not too many ideas – that I want to see on the pitch from Sunday."

Long-Term Ambition: De Zerbi expressed a desire for a long-term tenure, saying, "In my plan for sure there is the idea to stay for a long time, to try to put Tottenham... to stay in the first position in the Premier League." His immediate objective is to secure the club's Premier League status.

Team Mentality: He emphasized the psychological aspect of the game, stating, "The most important part in football is the mental part... it is crucial in every work, especially in football, especially in this moment in Tottenham."

Goalkeeper Situation

First-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is unavailable due to recovery from hernia surgery. Antonin Kinsky is expected to start in goal against Sunderland.

De Zerbi said he has not held an individual conversation with Kinsky, expressing confidence in the player's ability and stating Kinsky "has to be stronger than the mistakes and move on."

Response to Fan Criticism Over Past Comments

De Zerbi's appointment was met with statements of opposition from some Tottenham supporter groups, including Proud Lilywhites and Women of the Lane. The criticism related to comments De Zerbi made last year about Mason Greenwood, whom he managed at Marseille.

Context of Comments: In 2022, Mason Greenwood was charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He denied the charges. The Crown Prosecution Service discontinued the case in February 2023, citing "the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light." While at Marseille, De Zerbi described Greenwood as a "good lad" who had "paid in a strong way for what happened."

De Zerbi's Response: When asked about the fan reaction, De Zerbi said, "I wasn't surprised. I was a bit sad and sorry it happened, because I'm sorry if somebody took offence."

He added, "I must repeat what I said the other time. I have always been against – always – any type of violence, especially against women. But not only violence – even just sexist jokes or other sexist behaviour." He indicated he does not intend to comment further on the topic.

Background on Recent Managerial History

• Ange Postecoglou: Managed Tottenham for two seasons before his dismissal last year. In his first season, the team finished fifth in the Premier League. In his second, they won the UEFA Europa League but finished 17th in the league.
• Thomas Frank: Appointed as Postecoglou's successor in June 2025, Frank was dismissed in February 2026 after a run of two wins in 17 Premier League games.
• Igor Tudor: Appointed as interim manager in February, Tudor's tenure lasted 44 days and seven matches, which included five losses. The club mutually agreed to part ways with him in March.

Upcoming Match

Roberto De Zerbi's first match as Tottenham Hotspur manager will be an away fixture against Sunderland on Sunday.