He’s in London: Spurs in talks to appoint Igor Tudor upgrade this summer

Tottenham Hotspur have verbally agreed to appoint Igor Tudor on an interim basis until the end of the season.

The former Lazio and Juventus manager replaces Thomas Frank, a man whose short-lived tenure in the Tottenham hot seat will go down in history as one of the most dismal in modern memory.

A one-time Croatia international, Tudor, 47, will be in contention for the full-time job at the end of the season, depending, of course, on his performance over the intervening months.

Spurs are in a hot spot of mess, alright, so what actually is acceptable for ENIC Group, whose north London club are in a relegation battle in the Premier League, like it or not?

Spurs’ managerial plans

The fact Tottenham have waited until the end of the season before making a decision on Frank’s permanent successor is understandable. The managerial market is expected to explode later this year.

However, bringing over a manager in Tudor who has no experience of the English game, as a player or a coach, is bold to say the least. Some would call it brazen.

Journalist Matt Law has called him “too loud and emotional“, though perhaps that’s what the Lilywhites need to escape from the rut they have tumbled into.

However, looking at the bigger picture, Tottenham are interested in striking a deal for former manager Mauricio Pochettino, who is currently preparing to lead the United States national team out for the impending World Cup in North America.

According to The Telegraph, in fact, Spurs have indeed left the door open for Poch’s return at the end of the season, with the South American tactician having revealed in an interview in 2024 that he would “like to come back one day“.

This has since been corroborated by the one and only Fabrizio Romano, whose word on transfer happenings is so often gospel. Roberto De Zerbi is another contender, but there’s no question that Spurs would embrace the return of their former Argentine boss, should that opportunity arise.

Why Spurs should re-appoint Pochettino

As Frank’s Tottenham were beaten by Newcastle on Tuesday evening, chants of Pochettino’s name rang out across the stadium. The 53-year-old is the more romantic option for the N17 side, considering all the cards, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

The jury is out for Tudor, though fans will understandably have their reservations. Poch, however, has already proven himself in the hot seat, and it’s not as if he’s reached the later stage of his managerial career.

Pochettino did know how to whip his Spurs side into shape, creating one of the most balanced outfits in the country, deadly in attack and steely in defence. When managing Chelsea, he praised his “special” relationship with the north London club, and now he’s proving that he does indeed want to return.

From Dele Alli to Heung-min Son to Christian Eriksen to Harry Kane, so many forwards went from strength to strength after the one-time PSG player’s wing, and that’s a tactical quality that the withered crop currently battling against relegation need.

Frank’s system has many faults, chief of which being that Spurs were simply unable to craft meaningful patterns in attack. Though Tudor is an advocate of front-footed football, he was a centre-back during his playing days and operates within principled tactical parameters.

Clearly, Spurs can’t get any worse. Frank’s tenure was a truly abject thing, and while the Dane is a talented manager, his expertise with Brentford simply didn’t translate to success at Spurs.

Pochettino knows the club, knows that to play for Tottenham is to dare to do. Tudor may well steer Spurs clear of the danger zone over the coming months, but his track record doesn’t speak of a position as a project manager, and that’s what the Londoners need.

He’s an accomplished manager who likely feels he has unfinished business after coming within a whisker of winning the Champions League.

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