Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Igor Tudor as interim manager, a move met with a mixture of surprise and concern as the club battles to avoid relegation from the Premier League. The appointment, confirmed on , comes after a recent 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United under previous management, leaving Spurs just five points above the drop zone.
Tudor, 47, arrives at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a reputation forged across several European leagues – Italy, France, Turkey, Croatia, and Greece – but without prior experience managing in the Premier League. He was most recently in charge of Juventus, a spell that ended in October 2025, and now faces the immediate challenge of revitalizing a team struggling for form and confidence.
The urgency of the situation is undeniable. As one observer noted in the wake of the appointment, the club needs a “miracle” to climb the table and secure safety. The appointment has been described as “extraordinary” and has prompted questions about the club’s direction, particularly given Tudor’s lack of experience in English football.
What can Tottenham fans expect from their new interim boss? According to Pierre-Etienne Minonzio, a journalist with L’Equipe, Tudor’s defining managerial characteristic is a relentless demand for physical exertion. “He asks his players to run a lot,” Minonzio explained. “If you don’t run, you don’t play.” This uncompromising approach is rooted in Tudor’s own playing career, where he excelled as a no-nonsense defender, earning 55 caps for Croatia and featuring prominently for Juventus.
That emphasis on physicality, however, has sometimes led to difficult decisions regarding player selection. Minonzio recounted a situation from Tudor’s time at Marseille, where the club’s most gifted player, Dimitri Payet, found himself frequently sidelined. “It was a joke in L’Equipe – if Igor Tudor had Lionel Messi in his squad, Messi would not play!” Minonzio said, highlighting Tudor’s willingness to prioritize work rate over individual brilliance.
Despite this potentially controversial approach, Tudor enjoyed a successful season in Ligue 1 with Marseille, guiding the team to a third-place finish and surpassing their points total from the previous campaign, where they finished second. Minonzio emphasized that Tudor is not a manager concerned with popularity. “He doesn’t try to be liked. He is very direct, says what he thinks and doesn’t try to be attractive. There is no seduction,” he stated. “It is the same with the players. He keeps his distance and his obsession is to make training intense with a lot of running so they can be physically fit for the game.”
Tudor’s tactical preference appears to be a 3-5-2 formation, a system he consistently employed during his time at Marseille. Whether he will immediately implement this system at Tottenham remains to be seen, particularly given the squad’s current injury situation and the need for a quick turnaround in results.
The appointment has also sparked debate about the future of players already at the club. Reports suggest that Pedro Porro, a recent signing, could be given a lifeline under Tudor. However, the broader implications for the squad remain unclear. The club’s recent struggles have been compounded by a significant injury crisis, impacting key defenders and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, and the absence of Dominic Solanke for six weeks.
The shadow of a previous manager, Ange Postecoglou, looms large. His sacking was described as “inevitable” given the team’s slide towards the relegation battle, and the defeat to Leicester City was widely seen as the final straw. While injuries undoubtedly played a role in Postecoglou’s struggles, the club’s form had been deteriorating for some time, raising questions about his long-term suitability for the role.
Looking ahead, the possibility of a return for Mauricio Pochettino has been mentioned, but his availability and willingness to join a club potentially facing relegation remain uncertain. The immediate priority, however, is to stabilize the team and secure Premier League survival. Tudor’s task is monumental, and his uncompromising approach will be tested to the limit in the coming months. He will need to quickly instill a sense of discipline and work ethic if Tottenham are to avoid the unthinkable – a descent into the Championship.
The fans’ reaction has been largely one of bewilderment. Many have questioned the logic behind appointing a manager with no Premier League experience at such a critical juncture. The hope is that Tudor’s directness and focus on physical conditioning can galvanize a team that has appeared listless and lacking in motivation. But with the threat of relegation looming large, the pressure on Tudor is immense, and the stakes could not be higher.
