Tottenham Targets Roberto De Zerbi as Manager – The Athletic
Tottenham Hotspur have accelerated a bid to appoint Roberto De Zerbi as their third head coach this season. The club has made him their leading candidate and offered a long-term deal with a large financial package.
Deal status and timetable
There is no signed agreement yet between the club and De Zerbi. Spurs hope to have a new coach before most players return from international duty.
The plan is for the incoming manager to have about 10 days with the squad. The next Premier League match is away at Sunderland on April 12.
Why De Zerbi is favoured
Tottenham targets Roberto De Zerbi as manager because of his Premier League experience and recent success. He is considered the clear first choice to replace Igor Tudor.
Spurs offered De Zerbi a lucrative contract that would place him among the highest-paid managers in the league.
Context of the vacancy
Igor Tudor departed the club by mutual consent on Sunday. Tudor had no wins in five Premier League matches over a 44-day spell.
He was appointed in February on a deal until the end of the season. Tudor had succeeded Thomas Frank, who joined the club in the summer.
De Zerbi’s recent record
De Zerbi left Marseille in February, having been in charge for under two years. At the time of his exit, Marseille sat 12 points behind Paris Saint-Germain.
His side had just suffered a 5-0 loss to PSG and exited the Champions League at the group stage. He finished his Marseille spell with a 57 percent win rate.
Career highlights
He managed Benevento, Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk earlier in his career. Brighton appointed him in September 2022 after Graham Potter’s exit.
De Zerbi led Brighton to a sixth-place finish in his first season. That result earned the club a debut Europa League campaign.
He also held talks with Manchester United over the head coach role at one stage. He was briefly mentioned as a possible successor to Mauricio Pochettino.
Relegation threat and conditions
If hired, De Zerbi would be tasked with keeping Spurs in the Premier League. Tottenham sit 17th and are one point above the relegation zone.
De Zerbi has said he would prefer to take charge in the summer. That is conditional on Spurs remaining in the top flight.
Interim arrangements at Hotspur Way
Bruno Saltor, Tudor’s former assistant, is running training sessions. Club sources want the new coach settled in time to work with the squad before the Sunderland trip.
Supporter opposition and controversy
Three Spurs fan groups have urged the club not to appoint De Zerbi. Their objections focus on his public support for Mason Greenwood during Greenwood’s time at Marseille.
Greenwood was arrested on January 31, 2022 on suspicion of rape and assault. Police made a further arrest on February 1, 2022 for sexual assault and making threats to kill.
He was later charged in October with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The Crown Prosecution Service discontinued those charges in early February 2023.
In November 2025, De Zerbi described Greenwood as “a good person” and said he felt sadness over the public portrayal of him.
Tactical profile and scrutiny
De Zerbi’s teams are known for proactive, possession-based football. He favours building from the back and accelerating tempo to break lines.
Brighton failed to win any of his first five matches after he arrived midseason in 2022-23. Those results included defeats to Spurs, Brentford and Manchester City.
Strengths and defensive concerns
Marseille under De Zerbi kept a high defensive line and attacked through central zones. The side also recorded many errors that led to shots or goals.
During his Marseille tenure, the team committed 45 errors that led to a shot or goal. Only Nice recorded more, with 54 such errors.
Opponents averaged 0.14 expected-goals per shot against Marseille, the worst rate for any defending team in that period.
Assessment and next steps
Analysts describe hiring De Zerbi as a risky but potentially rewarding move. Supporter unrest and tactical fit remain major questions.
Spurs face a short window to appoint a coach who can stabilize results. Filmogaz.com will monitor developments as negotiations continue.
