Image source, Getty Images. By. Sami Mokbel. Senior football correspondent. 31 March 2026. 1863 Comments. Tottenham have appointed Roberto de Zerbi as their new head coach after the Italian signed a five-year contract with the club.. The former Brighton boss has seven games to save the club from relegation to the Championship.. If they do go down, he does not have a relegation clause that would allow him to walk away.. In two months’ time, Spurs’ third boss of the season will have either secured his place as a hero at the club, or be forever connected to one of the worst campaigns in their history.. He 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.”. BBC Sport reported on Sunday that De Zerbi was the man Spurs wanted to replace Igor Tudor, who officially left the club by mutual consent over the weekend.. De Zerbi has been the overwhelming first choice to become the club’s new permanent head coach given his prior Premier League experience, perceived tactical acumen and reputation for playing attacking football.. While De Zerbi was always open to taking the Spurs position, it is understood he initially showed a reluctance to accept the job before the end of the season.. The club tried to bring him in after Thomas Frank left in February, but it was deemed too soon given De Zerbi left Marseille on the same day.. However, the club still viewed De Zerbi as the best option for the long term of the club and his arrival now allows for planning around the summer transfer window.. He was also viewed as the best option for short-term amid a view within the club that there was no other highly credible coach on the market at this time – and a reluctance for another interim boss following Tudor’s short reign.. Tottenham are 17th in the Premier League, just one point outside of the relegation zone and without a win in the competition in 2026.. Should they fail to beat the drop, it would go down as one of the league’s most remarkable relegations.. Sporting director, Johan Lange, said: “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.”. A number of Tottenham supporters’ groups voiced their opposition to the prospect of appointing De Zerbi because of his
