Tottenham has offered their “thoughts and condolences” to interim boss Igor Tudor following the death of his father.
The 47-year-old Croatian did not undertake post-match media duties following Spurs’ 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest on Sunday after he was informed of a family bereavement.
Assistant Bruno Saltor stepped in and declined to give further details on Tudor’s “family issue”.
“Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Igor Tudor’s father Mario,” said a club statement on Monday.
“Our thoughts and condolences go out to Igor and his family during this incredibly difficult time.”
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Juventus also issued a statement expressing sympathy for their former player and manager.
“Juventus stands with Igor Tudor and his family at this difficult time,” the club said on X.
“Juventus joins in mourning the passing of his father.”
Relegation-threatened Spurs are without a fixture for three weeks due to the international break and cup exits. They return to action away to Sunderland on April 12.
Tottenham, the ninth-wealthiest club in the world, are running out of time to save themselves from the almost unthinkable nightmare of Premier League relegation, with Tudor losing five of his seven matches in charge in all competitions since replacing Thomas Frank.
Former Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy said it was “impossible” for Tudor to stay and believes the club, considered a member of the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’, will take the plunge.
“I think it’s really difficult for the players to play in an environment that’s so deflated and toxic,” he told the BBC.
“The only way you can change that is either winning games, which they’re not doing, or change a manager – what the fans want.
“If they keep him in charge, it’s five league games without a win. A new guy comes in, gets one win, all of sudden, it can turn quickly. I think it’s a risk worth taking and I think they’ll take it.”
Club bosses now have a to decide whether to stick or twist as they seek to avoid an embarrassing and shocking first relegation since 1977.
According to The Telegraph, Roberto De Zerbi is believed to be open to taking the permanent Tottenham head coach job should the club stay in the Premier League. De Zerbi, who has previously managed Marseille and Brighton and Hove Albion, has been out of work since February.
Sebastian Kehl, who recently left Borussia Dortmund, and current US head coach Mauricio Pochettino are the leading candidates for the role, according to the report, while Tottenham also made checks on Al-Diriyah’s Dougie Freedman and Chelsea’s Paul Winstanley as part of their hunt.