Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Roberto De Zerbi as head coach, signing the Italian to a five-year contract that contains no relegation release clause. The move makes De Zerbi the club’s third permanent head coach of the season as Spurs sit just one point above the Premier League relegation zone with seven matches remaining, facing the threat of their first top-flight demotion since 1977.
The appointment has prompted concern among some supporter groups because of De Zerbi’s public backing of Mason Greenwood while he was in charge at Marseille. The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust said the decision gives rise to serious concerns, and the club board is understood to have weighed De Zerbi’s association with Greenwood during the hiring process. The club expects the new head coach to address questions on the matter when he speaks to the media.
De Zerbi has more than a week to prepare for his debut, an away match at Sunderland on April 12. He has made keeping Tottenham in the Premier League his immediate priority. The new coach inherits a high-pressure situation after Igor Tudor’s 44-day spell, during which he failed to register a league win, and the club has now turned through three head coaches in the last year.
After leaving Marseille, De Zerbi said he had been reluctant to take a job until the summer but was persuaded by discussions with Tottenham’s leadership to accept a long-term project. He described the club’s stated ambition to build a side capable of significant achievements while playing attractive football as a central reason for signing a multi-year deal.
Sporting director Johan Lange welcomed the appointment, saying De Zerbi was the board’s first choice for a long-term role and praised his creativity and experience, including in the Premier League. Spurs view him as someone who can work toward the club’s future goals while tackling the immediate threat of relegation.
Sky Sports News correspondent Kaveh Solhekol reported that De Zerbi appreciates the seriousness of the task and has made survival the short-term aim. Sources say he recognises the squad’s strengths and intends to prioritise consistency, clear objectives and a simplified tactical plan in the run-in rather than attempting a wholesale rebuild. De Zerbi is known for an expansive, possession-oriented style that has at times confused players, but insiders suggest he will avoid overcomplicating matters in this emergency period.
There are also questions about his past working relationships. Reports of difficult exits from Brighton and Marseille, where he is said to have fallen out with club hierarchies, have fuelled debate about his temperament. Supporter concerns about his stance during the Greenwood episode are expected to feature at his first press conference. De Zerbi has expressed a desire to foster a strong connection with fans, as he has at previous clubs, to help steer Spurs clear of danger.
Former England midfielder and Sky pundit Paul Merson said bringing De Zerbi in at this stage highlights Tottenham’s standing and argued that if the coach keeps the club up, the appointment will prove money well spent. He urged the club to fully back the manager’s survival bid.
De Zerbi’s record suggests immediate transformation is not guaranteed. When he took over at Brighton in 2022 mid-season, his first five Premier League games produced no wins. Earlier roles in Italy saw similar slow starts: Benevento were relegated after he failed to win any of his first nine matches, and his 2016 spell at Palermo delivered just one victory in 13 matches before his dismissal. Those examples are cited as reasons for caution about expecting a rapid turnaround.
Sky Sports News will examine Tottenham’s precarious position and De Zerbi’s arrival on a special programme, Inside Spurs, airing Thursday at 7pm. The show will analyse whether Spurs can avoid their first relegation in 49 years and how the new coach might navigate the remainder of the season.