Roberto De Zerbi has been unveiled as the new manager of Tottenham (Image: Getty)
Roberto De Zerbi has spoken for the first time since becoming Tottenham‘s new manager – and says that Spurs remain « one of the biggest » clubs on the planet despite their current plight. The Italian is tasked with steering the Premier League club away from the threat of relegation after his predecessor, interim manager Igor Tudor, failed to spark the team into life. Tudor left on Sunday after just 44 days, and seven matches, in charge at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He didn’t win any of them, accumulating just one point from a possible 21.
De Zerbi, the 46-year-old former Brighton manager, only left Marseille in February and had been identified as a top target for the summer. But Spurs have managed to entice him to take up the role before then as they seek to avoid dropping out of English football’s top flight for the first time since 1977-78. They are only one point and one position above West Ham with seven games to go, with their fixtures including six-pointers against Wolves and Leeds who are also at real risk of the drop.
And after being announced as the new head coach on Tuesday evening, De Zerbi said: « I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world.
« 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. »
It comes after it emerged there is no relegation release clause in De Zerbi’s five-year contract, suggesting he will remain in charge should Spurs be relegated to the Championship in May.
Spurs’ sporting director Johan Lange added: « Roberto was our number one 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. »
Spurs have now sacked three managers since May 2025 with Ange Postecoglou, Thomas Frank and Tudor all leaving. And the Europa League winners will desperately be hoping De Zerbi can make an immediate impact to avoid a humiliating relegation to the second tier.
Roberto De Zerbi has already coached at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Brighton boss (Image: Getty)
But not all Spurs fans are happy with De Zerbi’s arrival due to his support of Mason Greenwood at Marseille. The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust say they will not support his appointment following complaints, with some fans threatening to boycott matches.
Greenwood was accused of attempted rape and assault but all charges were dropped in February 2023. He left Manchester United to restart his career in Spain with a loan at Getafe before his move to Marseille shortly after De Zerbi took charge of the Ligue 1 side.
De Zerbi said while in France: « I don’t want to get involved in anyone’s private life. I don’t even get into the private lives of my children, because I want to give everyone their freedom. All I can see is that Mason seems a good lad, he paid in a strong way for what happened.
« He has probably here found the right environment for him, which gave him affection, and held out its hand to him. When I look at him as a person, I feel sad for what happened in his life, without getting into the details.
« Because the person I know here is very different to the one that has been described, especially in England. » Those comments have seen critics accuse the coach of making Greenwood out to be a victim.
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