Report: Spurs want to hire De Zerbi as new head coach
Tottenham Hotspur want to convince Roberto de Zerbi to become their third head coach of the season, according to BBC Sport's Sami Mokbel.
Spurs announced Sunday that Igor Tudor had relinquished the reins after just 44 days in the role on an interim basis. The club said Tudor's exit was "mutually agreed" between the two parties.
Former Brighton & Hove Albion boss De Zerbi left Marseille in February and is open to taking over at Tottenham, Mokbel understands. However, he would reportedly prefer to wait until the end of the season when he knows whether the club managed to preserve its Premier League status.
Spurs are in 17th place and just one point above the drop. The club's first relegation from England's top flight since 1977 is a distinct possibility.
Relegation battle with 7 matches left
| # | Club | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Leeds United | -11 | 33 |
| 16 | Nottingham Forest | -12 | 32 |
| 17 | Tottenham Hotspur | -10 | 30 |
| 18 | West Ham United | -21 | 29 |
| 19 | Burnley | -28 | 20 |
| 20 | Wolves | -30 | 17 |
Tudor's final match at the helm was last Sunday's 3-0 home defeat to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest. A 1-1 draw at Liverpool marked the only point he took from his five Premier League matches in charge.
The Croatian also oversaw two Champions League games against Atletico Madrid that culminated in a 7-5 aggregate defeat and elimination from the last 16.
Tottenham won the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou last season, but decided a change was needed in the dugout after a woeful 17th-placed finish in the Premier League. The club tempted Thomas Frank from Brentford, but he was sacked in February with the team in 16th spot, five points above the relegation zone following a winless run of eight matches.
But the subsequent appointment of Tudor, who had forged a reputation on the continent for quickly reversing the fortunes of ailing teams, failed miserably.
Tottenham sent their support to Tudor following the death of his father. He learned the news after the Forest loss.
Goalkeeping coach Tomislav Rogic and physical coach Riccardo Ragnacci also left Tottenham. The club promised an update on a new head coach "in due course."