Tudor's Spurs Nightmare Ends in Mutual Split – De Zerbi Not Ready to Dive In Just Yet
Tottenham Hotspur have parted ways with manager Igor Tudor by mutual consent after a winless run left them teetering above relegation. Fabrizio Romano confirms Roberto De Zerbi is a summer target but won't take over now, with Mauricio Pochettino eyed post-2026 World Cup. CEO Vinai Venkatesham oversaw the decision amid internal pressure.
Tottenham's Managerial Merry-Go-Round Spins Again
Picture this: you're Tottenham Hotspur, perched precariously one point above the Premier League trapdoor, and your gaffer hasn't sniffed a win since February. That's the grim reality for Igor Tudor, the Croatian firebrand who stepped in after Thomas Frank got the boot. But now, after a humiliating 3-0 thumping by Nottingham Forest at the weekend, it's all over – by mutual consent, no less.
TEAMtalk's Graeme Bailey dropped the bombshell that the Spurs hierarchy had been mulling this for weeks, with CEO Vinai Venkatesham holding the ultimate veto. The trigger? That Forest defeat, which crossed an internal red line. And it's not just the results; Tudor's still grieving his dad Mario, recently passed, adding a heartbreaking layer to his early exit.
De Zerbi Deal? Not So Fast, Says Romano
Enter the rumour mill's favourite Italian oracle, Fabrizio Romano. The transfer guru's been banging on about Roberto De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino as Spurs' dream duo for the summer gig. De Zerbi, fresh off his Marseille sacking in February, is a free agent – perfect timing, right?
Wrong. Romano shut that down quicker than a Spurs counter-attack. On his YouTube channel, he clarified: De Zerbi's not biting mid-season. "He's a top candidate for the summer, not now," Romano insisted, stressing Spurs must dodge the Championship first. Back in mid-March after a Liverpool draw, he'd already hinted the ex-Brighton boss was ideal but reluctant to jump into the relegation furnace.
TEAMtalk's Fraser Fletcher first flagged Spurs' De Zerbi interest way back on 7 January 2026. Makes sense – the guy's a tactical wizard, but he's biding his time.
Poch's World Cup Wait and Other Wild Cards
Then there's Pochettino, currently steering the USA through to the 2026 World Cup. Sources whisper he's Spurs-bound post-tournament, ditching the Stars and Stripes for North London nostalgia. Can't chat now, though – Yanks come first.
Spurs aren't short of options. The Telegraph reckons they're eyeing an out-of-work boss pronto, while Jamie Carragher slammed Tudor's biggest flop on Sky. And a club insider? They've gone full tinfoil hat, claiming a 'crazy' Poch twist.
Venkatesham's leading the review, with crucial huddles wrapping up. Tudor leaves winless in the league – a run that'd test a saint's patience. Fans, neck a pint; summer's target list is mouthwatering, but survival's the priority. Relegation would flip the script entirely.
As Subhankar Mondal at TEAMtalk nailed it, this was brewing post-Forest. De Zerbi might fancy the long game, but Spurs need points, not promises. Will they steady the ship or sink? Grab your scarf – it's going to be a bumpy ride to May.