Who Next For Tottenham? Where Do Spurs Turn After Interim Boss Igor Tudor?
Tottenham has appointed Igor Tudor as interim manager after sacking Thomas Frank, who departed following a string of poor performances. The club considers Roberto De Zerbi, Marco Rose, and former manager Mauricio Pochettino as potential long-term successors. De Zerbi, having left Marseille, brings Premier League experience, while Rose is noted for turning defensive teams more offensive. Pochettino, currently with the US Men's National Team, evokes nostalgia but comes with the risk of unmet expectations. The future managerial choice will depend heavily on Tottenham's league status by the season's end.
- Tottenham appoint Igor Tudor as interim manager after sacking Thomas Frank
- Roberto De Zerbi, Marco Rose and Mauricio Pochettino considered for a long-term role
- Future managerial decision will depend on Tottenham's league status next season
After Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle on Tuesday night, the writing was on the wall for Frank. The man in charge at the final whistle said he was confident in his continued employment when quizzed after the game...but he was sacked no less than 12 hours later.
It was a decision that simply had to be made when considering just how far Spurs have slipped down the table in recent weeks. It arguably could have been made sooner. Their interim hire of Igor Tudor is the next move to save the club’s season.
The debate now is who could be in charge next season as a long-term replacement for Frank?
Roberto De Zerbi
The same night in which Tottenham were suffering another Premier League defeat, Roberto De Zerbi had called time on his time in Marseille.
Already walking a tightrope after missing out on a Champions League playoff tie, his balance was further precarious after events at the weekend.
Marseille getting hit for five by PSG, the biggest rivalry in French football generating too big a defeat for De Zerbi to bounce back from.
The fiery Italian leaving of his own accord, that decision may be the reason the Spurs board were jolted into action. Yet he is the man topping the next Tottenham manager betting odds.
A lot of the discourse regarding Thomas Frank’s sacking has been holding out due to no obvious candidate. It is all very well saying goodbye to somebody but if the succession plan is not in place, then why make the change that everyone is crying out for.
That was why the former Brentford boss was given more time than was palatable for most supporters for Spurs. That time has expired when you consider that De Zerbi also has Premier League managerial experience to fall back on.
His time as Brighton boss could be considered the Seagull’s most successful period of all time. Europa League football a fair reward for their efforts after finishing sixth at the end of the 2022/23 campaign but unfortunately for the Italian, those high standards could not be met the following season.
An 11th place finish at the end of 2023/24 plus public displeasure at Brighton’s data-driven recruitment meant an amicable decision was framed as the reason for his exit from The Amex – behind the scenes it was likely to be more combustible.
Which is maybe the reason that De Zerbi is not the only horse in this particular managerial race. He is no doubt a thoroughbred that could be capable of achieving good things but thoroughbreds have a temperament that need to be managed in order to get the best out of them.
Marco Rose
Another candidate who has surged to the front of the betting queue is Marco Rose. The former RB Leipzig manager has been out of work for nearly 12 months.
His previous outpost saw him work with Xavi Simons - a Spurs marquee signing who has not lived up to his top billing just yet.
Much of the problem regarding Simons output for Spurs is that the setup has been too defensive to allow the Dutch international to truly flourish - a thorny issue that Rose’s appointment could turn into bloom.
While it is not just the experience of already coaching one of Spurs’ squad that puts the 49-year-old at the top of the list.
Spells as Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach have also added weight to an already impressive coaching CV.
The question is whether it is impressive enough to tempt the Tottenham board, the fact that Rose comes from the Jurgen Klopp branch of disciples is another thing to consider before reaching a permanent answer.
With that being said, a permanent answer is not needed between now and the end of the season. Would someone such as Rose be interested in taking the reins after Igor Tudor’s stint in London comes to an end.
You could also ask the same of another former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic. Another coach who is sitting on the sidelines and a man who has already turned down plenty of offers with an eye to working in the Premier League.
A lot will depend on what division Tottenham are playing in next season. The appointment of Igor Tudor certainly seems a bold one - especially as he has no Premier League experience but if he can keep the club in the top tier, the next name could then come into wider focus.
Mauricio Pochettino
Tottenham’s motto is ‘To Dare Is To Do’. Do they dare pick up the phone and try and revive the previous love affair with Mauricio Pochettino?
The Argentine is currently manager of the United States Men’s National Team, his focus is on a home World Cup in just a few months.
Past the 2026 edition of international football’s largest party, his focus could be placed elsewhere and nobody would blame anybody for putting Pochettino back within the familiar environment of North London.
Then again, just because you could put Pochettino back within a familiar environment does not mean you should.
There is an adage within football that you should never go back, the adage is well used for a reason, many managers have returned home and failed miserably.
Not all - David Moyes somehow bucking the trend not once but twice in his career. His second West Ham stint better than his first. His second stint at Everton ticking over nicely - optimism in that half of Merseyside for the first time in a while.
But the wily Scot must surely be the outlier to all of this. Should Pochettino be the man who gets the N17 keys, he would surely be on a hiding to nothing.
The benchmark of the golden age of the 2015-2017 era constantly used as the measuring stick, a measure too high for this current Spurs crop.
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