Tottenham appoints igor tudor and warns 'no time for excuses' as fight for survival begins
Tottenham have moved quickly to install Igor Tudor as interim head coach until the end of the season, with the Croat warning the club's current Premier League position is "one that nobody can accept. " Tudor arrives charged with arresting a deepening slump and restoring belief inside a dressing room beset by injuries and inconsistent form.
Immediate priorities: confidence, courage and organisation
Tudor set out a simple but unambiguous brief on taking the job. "I'm coming here knowing that the situation is not easy. There is no time to find excuses, " he said, stressing that the team's main needs are restored confidence and courage alongside tactical clarity. With 11 players sidelined, Tudor has highlighted the importance of making the most of the group available and tailoring a system to fit those personnel.
He spoke of training as a key lever: the coach must "show the path" and the players must accept it. Tudor also underlined that style remains important, but insisted pragmatism is required in the short term. He told staff and players they must give "something more, something extra" and be intelligent in selecting the best approach for the current squad.
Tough timing: fixtures, fitness and a hostile opening test
The club confirmed the appointment on 14 February 2026 at 12: 00 ET, with Tudor signing until the season's end. He steps into the role after his predecessor was dismissed following an extension of a winless run to eight league matches. Tottenham sit just five points above the relegation zone with 12 Premier League games remaining, and the calendar does not ease.
Tudor's first match is a high-profile home fixture against Arsenal on 22 February (ET), a test that will offer an immediate barometer of any early impact. Beyond domestic duties, the squad must also be managed through the resumption of the Champions League knockout phase in March, leaving little room for gradual transitions or extended experimentation.
Injuries complicate selection and game planning. With over a dozen players unavailable, Tudor faces the twin tasks of rebuilding confidence among those fit to play and finding a system that can be resilient under pressure. He has experience stepping into midseason jobs and driving short-term improvements, and the club has tasked him explicitly with stabilising performances and maximising the squad's quality.
Expectations, style and what comes next
Fans and the board demand a rapid uplift. Tudor acknowledged the club's culture and the supporters' appetite for a distinctive, attacking brand of football, but he warned that immediate survival and consistency are the priorities. "The position of the club in this moment is one that nobody can accept. Every Tottenham fan cannot accept this situation, " he said, urging collective responsibility.
Practical measures will include refining training routines, restoring belief, and identifying the best tactical framework for available players. The new coach also emphasised personal identity: he does not intend to abandon his principles, but must be flexible and intelligent about implementation in a short timeframe.
The next few weeks will be decisive. A positive result in the opener could buy Tudor space to impose his methods; further dropped points will intensify scrutiny and pressure. For now, Tottenham have placed their fate in the hands of a manager who has repeatedly been asked to rescue difficult campaigns — and who has bluntly warned there are no excuses left to make.
