Football365

Here we are then, at the juncture where Tottenham Hotspur appointing an injured back-up left-back as their manager might not be their worst option.

Actually, hilarious though it sounds, it could even be their best hope of dodging relegation.

Really, just a huge well done to everyone involved in bringing us here. Especially the pair at the wheel of this particular clown car, chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange, both of whom seem to be operating under the incorrect assumption that the other must know what they are doing.

Between them, they have to find a manager to slam on the brakes as Spurs career towards the Championship. Igor Tudor was not that man – never was he nor did he ever look like he might be – and now, more than a week after it was clear the Croatian was done in north London, not only are Tottenham yet to identify a replacement, they don’t appear to know what type of figure they want as their next victim boss.

Someone who knows the club? Someone who knows the league – or at least how to stay in it? Someone who knows one end of a tactics board from the other?

Spurs seem to think that Roberto De Zerbi might fit two of those criteria and, apparently, they are currently begging the axed Marseille boss to save them. Which feels like something that could have been done last week, if it must be done at all.

The other option is Ben Davies. Or rather, just letting the squad manage themselves.

MORE: Ranking all 28 Tottenham player-manager options behind Ben Davies

Handing the lunatics the keys to the asylum sounds ludicrous, of course. Many Spurs fans might prefer this squad to be stoned in the street rather than be rewarded for their failures with almost full autonomy.

But it is perhaps the one thing Tottenham haven’t already tried.

This Spurs squad, evidently, does not like being managed. Not by Tudor; certainly not be Thomas Frank; and, towards the end, not by Ange Postecoglou.

Indeed, as the novelty of Postecoglou wore off and the exhaustion kicked in, his players seemed to take their management upon themselves when full-throttle Ange-ball appeared to all but the boss the wrong approach.

Micky van de Ven says he and Cristian Romero effectively organised Tottenham to sit in and defend their way to Europa League glory. Their management responsibilities, we assume, did not extend to the Premier League, in which they were rank. Only the games they won.

Davies would be the figurehead as the last remaining relic of a time Tottenham were not a complete shambles and as a 100-cap international who you might tuck into bed with your sister, he could be a very presentable face of whatever it is Spurs want to portray right now.

But, let’s have it right, Davies getting the gig would be management by committee. Which could as good as any as Tottenham’s least worst option.

Of course, appointing De Zerbi might work. At almost any other club, you might reasonably expect a fiery Italian’s arrival to galvanise an obviously-talented-if-highly-flawed squad to claw together enough points to remain over the next seven matches the fourth-worst team in the Premier League.

De Zerbi, though, doesn’t tolerate fools, can’t abide non-conformists. And Spurs, well…

Were he to take over in the summer, as seemingly is his self-preserving preference, a demanding authoritarian to shake up and reshape an underperforming squad could be a good fit.

But more immediately, De Zerbi is not the coolest of heads in an emergency, or even amid an outbreak of mild concern. He’s a fire starter more than a fire fighter. Right now, there is a fair chance that Spurs are using petrol to put out a raging dumpster blaze.

And on what basis are we assuming he could have an immediate impact?

Tudor was binned for gathering a single point in his first five games in the Premier League. At Brighton, De Zerbi was similarly winless in his first five, collecting only one more point from the 15 available when he replaced Graham Potter mid-season in 2022.

We know this Spurs squad is not the most malleable and De Zerbi’s methods tend to require time to take effect, even with a willing and open-minded bunch of players. In the absence of both during these desperate times, perhaps it is a time for more desperate measures, and a player-led vibes-over-tactics approach.

There are reportedly four reasons behind Roberto De Zerbi’s decision to change his mind on joining Spurs before the end of this season.

Spurs have been linked with several left-field options to replace Igor Tudor, with Harry Redknapp, Tim Sherwood, Chris Hughton and Ben Davies mentioned as possible interim solutions.

But it has been widely reported that former Marseille and Brighton boss De Zerbi has always been Tottenham’s preferred replacement for Tudor, though a move initially looked unlikely before the end of this season.

However, after officially parting company with Tudor on Sunday, it has emerged that Spurs are making a huge effort to make De Zerbi U-turn on returning to management for the run-in.

On Monday morning, it started to emerge that De Zerbi had begun to ‘express his openness’ on joining Spurs now, and talkSPORT reporters Alex Crook and Ben Jacobs later revealed that an ‘agreement is close’ between the two parties.

READ: Tottenham ‘dream’ scenario emerges as Arsenal curse strikes and ‘England star’ appointed

Crook said on X: EXC: @talkSPORT understands Roberto de Zerbi now close to an agreement with #THFC on a five-year contract. With @JacobsBen.’

‘RDZ has initially planned to wait until the summer as previously reported but talks have been positive in the past 24 hours.’

Jacobs added on X: ‘BREAKING: Roberto De Zerbi is now close to an agreement with Spurs following a breakthrough in talks. Five-year contract on offer.

‘De Zerbi had told Spurs last week he wanted to wait until summer, but a lucrative long-term deal has made him open to taking the job now.’

TalkSPORT have also reported that a ‘significant survival bonus and signing-on fee’ have been put to De Zerbi from Spurs, with journalist Rudy Galetti revealing three other reasons behind the manager’s U-turn.

Galletti said on X: ‘Roberto De Zerbi is closing in on Tottenham after Tudor’s exit.

‘A lucrative deal and assurances of major summer investment to reshape the squad to his vision in case of survival are key factors, along with a relatively favourable run-in compared to relegation rivals.’

Reporter Nicolo Schira, meanwhile, claims De Zerbi is already ‘working to build and complete his staff’ at Spurs, but club legend Chris Waddle has explained why he thinks his former club is doomed for relegation regardless.

“I don’t think a new manager at Tottenham changes a thing. The players aren’t good enough and that isn’t going to change if a new manager comes in,” Waddle told 10Bet.

READ NEXT: Tottenham move on from latest f***ing mess – so what’s the next f***ing mess?

“I’m looking at the squad, looking at individuals that don’t look like they’ve got the stomach or the ability to pull the club out of the hole it’s in.

“I had some great years at Tottenham and have a lot of affection for the club. I have a huge amount of respect for the fans and feel for them – it’s sad to watch what has happened to the club this season.

“Look at the managers that Tottenham have had in recent years. Antonio Conte. Jose Mourinho. These are proven winners. Did anything change? It’s not about the managers; it’s about changing the culture at the top of the club.

“Tottenham have the best stadium in the country and the best training facilities. They don’t have the best players and until the board changes its recruitment policy, then the club will always struggle. They won’t ever be able to challenge at the top end of the table.

“Look at the recruitment. £30m for Conor Gallagher in January. No disrespect to Gallagher, but if Athletico were happy to let him go after a season and a half, then alarm bells should be ringing.

“Semenyo. Guehi. These are players that Tottenham could have signed. Ready-made players.

“It must be heartbreaking for Tottenham fans to see good Premier League players linked with other clubs, Tonali at Newcastle for instance, and know that they will not be able to sign them.

“Don’t blame the manager for Tottenham’s problems. It isn’t Igor Tudor’s fault. The people that run the club must take responsibility.

“Tottenham are in a fight. They’ve got seven games to save their season. The only people that can save them now are the players. Players need to roll up their sleeves. Win their individual battles. Its back-to-basics stuff.

“Am I confident they will do it? Nothing I’ve seen from this group of players convinces me that Tottenham will be playing Premier League football next season.”

Roberto De Zerbi is now reportedly ‘open’ to joining Tottenham Hotspur before the end of this season and there is ‘growing belief’ at the club.

Former boss Igor Tudor’s position became untenable before the international break and he formally exited Spurs on Sunday evening.

Tudor’s exit follows a dire run of five losses in seven games, with reports since claiming Spurs have a list of seven options to replace him.

It has been widely reported that former Marseille and Brighton boss De Zerbi is their preferred option, though it has also been said that he was initially unwilling to return to management before the end of this season.

However, Spurs have been refusing to give up and reports overnight claimed they are still ‘trying to convince’ De Zerbi to take over now and guide them to safety, while an alternative has ruled himself out.

READ: Who will be Spurs manager next season? Top target clear as Tudor exit confirmed

And our colleagues at TEAMtalk revealed on Monday morning that De Zerbi has ‘softened’ his stance, so Spurs have been ‘given hope’ that he could take over now.

The report added:

There is now a growing belief within the club that the Italian’s stance may be shifting.

‘Over the weekend, Spurs officials detected what one source described as a “softening” in De Zerbi’s position – enough to encourage a renewed and aggressive attempt to bring him in immediately.’

Now, Italian reporter Gianluca Di Marzio is reporting that De Zerbi is ‘open’ to a U-turn and the ‘next few hours will be crucial’ as club chiefs look to get a ‘yes’.

Di Marzio noted that De Zerbi ‘has expressed openness to evaluating Tottenham’s offer’ of a five-year contract.

He added: ‘The club has already offered guarantees regarding the possibility of building a strong and competitive team for the coming seasons.

‘The next few hours will be crucial for the Italian coach’s final approval, which could mean he returns to the helm just a few months after his time with Marseille ends.’

TalkSPORT, meanwhile, have revealed that Spurs are willing to offer De Zerbi a ‘significant survival bonus and sign on fee’ to get a deal over the line.

Upon announcing Tudor’s exit, Spurs hinted at their plans by mentioning a new ‘head coach’ rather than an ‘interim’ replacement for Tudor.

Their statement read: ‘We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for Head Coach Igor Tudor to leave the Club with immediate effect.

‘Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci have also left their respective roles of Goalkeeping Coach and Physical Coach.

‘We thank Igor, Tomislav and Riccardo for their efforts during the past six weeks, in which they worked tirelessly. We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time.

‘An update on a new Head Coach will be provided in due course.’

Tottenham are reportedly looking to convince Roberto De Zerbi to take the permanent head coach role now after Igor Tudor left on Sunday.

Spurs confirmed on Sunday that Tudor had left Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by mutual consent after a disastrous time in north London.

The writing was on the wall after Tottenham lost 3-0 at home to Premier League relegation rivals Nottingham Forest before the international break.

After losing his first four matches as Spurs interim head coach, Tudor briefly gave fans some hope he could turn it around with a draw against Liverpool at Anfield and a 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid, but the embarrassing defeat at home to Forest signalled change.

Announcing their decision on Sunday, Tottenham wrote in a statement: ‘We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for Head Coach Igor Tudor to leave the Club with immediate effect.

‘Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci have also left their respective roles of Goalkeeping Coach and Physical Coach.

READ: Ranking all 28 Tottenham player-manager options behind Ben Davies

‘We thank Igor, Tomislav and Riccardo for their efforts during the past six weeks, in which they worked tirelessly. We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time.

‘An update on a new Head Coach will be provided in due course.’

A report on Sunday claimed there are as many as seven options in the frame to become the new interim boss at Tottenham, including Ben Davies in a player-manager role.

However, the Daily Mail are now insisting that Tottenham ‘are trying to convince’ former Brighton and Marseille boss De Zerbi to take the job permanently before the end of the season.

READ: Who will be Spurs manager next season? Top target clear as Tudor exit confirmed

It is understood that De Zerbi has been reluctant to return to management before the end of the season after his sacking at Marseille earlier this year.

But Tottenham ‘are attempting to persuade the ex-Brighton and Marseille manager to take the job now, and it remains a possibility’.

The report adds that Glenn Hoddle, who hasn’t managed for 20 years, is a possibility ‘as the club consider a sensational move’ for the former Southampton and Wolves manager.

Austrian coach Adi Hutter, who most recently managed Monaco last year, is another coach linked to the Tottenham job but he has now ruled himself out.

Speaking to Sky Sports Austria at the weekend, Hutter said: “In recent days and weeks, I have been increasingly linked with various clubs. However, as I already stated immediately after my time at Monaco, I would prefer not to work as a head coach again until the start of the new season at the earliest. My position on this matter has not changed since then.”

Igor Tudor’s gone and ENIC are now scrambling to source a new interim manager for Tottenham having come to terms with the fact that no right-minded permanent option would come anywhere near them right now.

A shortlist featuring your inevitable Knows The Club lads also threw up a surprise name as Tottenham envelop the masses in a delightful coat of 90s nostalgia through the possibility of appointing a Premier League player-manager.

Ben Davies is the man being considered but which other members of this downcast group of relegation battlers could take on the role?

We’ve ranked the whole squad by player-manager merit, from least to most.

We doubt his English lessons will feature the requisite swears for him to scream from the touchline as Xavi Simons cedes possession for the 427th time.

Unlikely to be hugely invested during what will surely be his final two months at Tottenham.

Could he regret his early season vow to “take on more responsibility”. No.

Almost certainly wants Tottenham to get relegated so he can leave with his reputation still somewhat in tact.

“I don’t wanna be here, you don’t wanna be here, but we’re stuck here and I don’t want a 50 per cent wage cut to play in the Championship next season.” It could work.

Can’t be having a Premier League manager sporting a topknot.

Not his fate.

He’s got plenty of experience both at Spurs and in the Premier League in general but his contract’s up at the end of the season and he’s wanted out for a while.

We’re not sure his reasonable insistence that all teammates just give him the ball when he returns from injury will go down all that well with the majority.

Already well-versed in the boos that are sure to come his way at half-time vs Sunderland in his first game in charge. The Premier League social media team would have an absolute field day.

He’s had enough time to ponder the problems at Spurs from the sidelines and will presumably have come to the conclusion – along with the rest of us – that his absence is a big factor in their struggles. It might not be quite enough just to rush himself back from injury.

We look forward to him removing his tie and unbuttoning his shirt in celebration of an offside goal.

‘Smashes’ sh*t and not averse to giving anyone a kicking in interviews, though Tudor has shown that’s perhaps not the best route to go down with these Spurs softies.

Unlikely to be a favourite among the Tottenham hierarchy having described their project as a ‘disaster’, but we would be fascinated to see just how much fan-geeing he does from the touchline given his penchant for arm-waving on the pitch when Spurs win an attacking throw-in.

You will struggle to find a scouting report of Bergvall which doesn’t include some reference to his high football IQ. It’s a overarching term to cover all manner of football things beyond the basics and we assume sets him up beautifully to manage a Premier League football team at the age of 20.

Feels like he should be a contender purely on the basis of third goalkeepers doing sod all and thus having plenty of time to contemplate tactics and the like. But third goalkeepers are also clearly very comfortable getting paid quite a lot – £15k per week in Austin’s case – for doing very little.

Richarlison wouldn’t get a look in and what better way to secure a place on Thomas Tuchel’s England plane than playing every minute, receiving no service and therefore scoring no goals for Tottenham?

Assuming his career as a footballer was indeed ended by Igor Tudor in Madrid he may as well turn his gloveless hand to management.

Tottenham are on to an absolute winner if Spence can instil the confidence in the rest of the squad that he has in himself.

The perfect end to his undercover masterplan as a Chelsea agent of Tottenham doom: go to Spurs via 18 months at Atletico Madrid; do nothing on the pitch to help them into a relegation battle; seal the deal from the touchline.

Would pass the ‘looks good in a suit’ acid test with flying colours and our guess is the Spurs fans would take great solace in going down in The Right Way playing some attractive but futile football.

The antidote to the Arsenal-supporting manager he must have endured through gritted teeth for much of the season having warmed Tottenham hearts with his response to Arsenal’s title charge: “I couldn’t care less about what they do.”

His position in this ranking says plenty about him as a footballer showing maturity beyond his tender age but far more about the rest of his don’t-give-a-sh*t teammates.

Typically in the Spoke Well category of post-match interviewees and came across as A Thinker Of The Game if maybe not a hugely deep one during a Monday Night Football appearance in December. A Tim Sherwood for the TikTok generation and that’s not meant as quite such a slight as it sounds.

A strong candidate thanks to what appear to be plenty of on-pitch smarts but also because his father Sidate is a manager in Senegal and used to be goalkeeping coach for the Senegal national team.

If the Spurs hierarchy remain convinced as they were when they appointed Tudor that the best way to avoid relegation is through a manager who’s going to challenge players and ruffle feathers in the squad then here’s a man who would tear out those feathers with his teeth and spit them at the now crying, balding cockerel sitting next to him.

Romero certainly feels like a future manager having been tipped to leave for Tottenham for Atletico Madrid due to what many deem to be a reunion with long-lost father and Argentinian firebrand Diego Simone.

Benefits a huge amount in this ranking from being an older member of the squad who plays in a position that tends to breed future football managers, which is absolutely good enough for Spurs.

“At one point, we just walked up to the gaffer and said that we need to change some things and play more defensive sometimes. We played away at Frankfurt and were 1-0 up, and we can’t keep attacking, we just need to come back and have a low block and make sure we get the three points.

“We sat with him and he agreed with us on some things and he told us that he expected us two guys to sort this on the pitch – to make sure that this is something everybody knows and to speak to everybody on the pitch.

“He said to me and Cuti personally that we need to make sure the other guys listen to us, that we have a reputation in the team and everyone respects us, so make sure the guys follow what we say on the pitch. So, Cuti and I were just screaming at everyone.”

I.e. Van de Ven and Romero coached Tottenham to Europa League glory.

Premier League player-managers were typically bit-part players when they were a thing roughly three decades ago and Davies is the bittest of bit-part players at Tottenham. He both Knows The Club and the Premier League as they are now. One would expect/hope he would have the respect of his teammates as someone with 363 appearances for the club. He’s got his UEFA A coaching licence. And perhaps more crucial than those other factors in his favour – he’s about the only person in the club who seems to actually care about Tottenham.

Davies essentially ticks all the boxes other than the admittedly quite crucial one of managing a football team. Of all the mad options – and they’re all mad for one or more reasons – he might be a relatively sane appointment.

Spurs didn’t even make it into our list of potential interlull saviours.

Not because we didn’t think they’d produce the goods; but because we knew with such certainty that they would.

Sure enough, on Sunday afternoon came the least shocking shock news in interlull history.

In between news of the latest batch of Arsenal players to suffer heartbreaking injury misfortune on their international jaunts – we just hope and pray the club will still be able to fulfil their remaining fixtures on the title run-in – came the news that Spurs and Igor Tudor had mutually consented.

That this announcement was coming has been obvious all week. The loss to Nottingham Forest – and Tudor’s part in it with his inexplicable half-time panic in a game still at that time technically very salvageable – was too much for any manager to survive from the position of weakness in which Tudor already found himself.

He wasn’t the right man when he was appointed, or at any time during his brief and cursed reign. The only things that could possibly be delaying the confirmation of what everyone already knew were Spurs not wanting to appear crass in the wake of the death of Tudor’s father and a desire to name his immediate successor, well, immediately.

We now know it was primarily at least the former. The announcement of the next head coach will arrive in ‘due course’. Alasdair Gold of football.london, who’s generally pretty on top of such matters, places the timeframe for ‘due course’ at the ‘next couple of days’.

The logic there is sound. Spurs want a new man in for when the bulk of the squad return from the blessed escape from the daily horrors of Tottenham that the international break has afforded them.

So now the question is: after the utter f*cking mess of the Igor Tudor appointment, what utter f*cking mess will Spurs brew up next?

There are many options. It’s pretty clear that Spurs’ preferred course of action at this latest juncture of despair was the certainty provided by a permanent appointment of Roberto De Zerbi, a man who does feel quite Spurs and who is, unlike pretty much any other serious contenders for a permanent gig, available right now.

The problem there is that a permanent appointment offers no certainty at all when De Zerbi – because he is quite mad but not that mad – will demand a relegation escape clause even if he did deign to pop over now. There really is no certainty to be found when appointing a manager of a club standing seven games away from what is fast approaching probable rather than possible relegation.

De Zerbi will be interested and interesting if Spurs stay up, but it seems wildly unlikely he’ll turn up now in any capacity.

Which leaves Spurs looking for another short-term option, and we don’t see any particularly convincing one.

They surely can’t repeat the mistake they made with Tudor of going for someone with absolutely no Premier League chops whatsoever, but whatever they do next looks certain to be a huge and desperate punt with absurdly high stakes.

Sean Dyche is the banter answer on everyone’s lips, and there’s no denying the hilarity of it. But you don’t even need to go down the obvious road of whether the fans would stand for it, or whether they’re too arrogant in turning their noses up at him.

Spurs are absolutely sh*t enough and in enough sh*t that Dyche is an option. The question isn’t that, but whether he’s even any longer a decent option as emergency relegation firefighter. He’s just been sacked by Nottingham Forest, who certainly don’t look worse for the change.

Other names being thrown around include all manner of Tottenham Men of varying orders of ridiculousness. Many of them have been using the media as de facto job interviews ever since Thomas Frank was binned. Most have not managed a top-flight game this decade. Others have recently failed in the Championship with West Brom.

Sure, your Sherwoods, your Hoddles, your Hughtons and the Redknapps of this world Know The Club and, theoretically, Know The League. That would appear to be the two main boxes ticked.

But what do they actually know about the club now? What do they actually know about the Premier League now?

Yet even a list of Spurs Men featuring the name Tim Sherwood front and centre is not the most ridiculous possible avenue Spurs may consider.

There has been growing noise around the idea of appointing a player-manager from within the current squad. There are a few small holes in this otherwise foolproof plan.

First, that the players have been conspicuously unable to organise themselves over the last couple of seasons anyway.

The current captain is Cristian Romero. There is solid precedent for Argentinian bosses at Spurs, but we’re not sure this is quite the way to extend that lineage at the current time. Although if he were to get the job, it would surely be boom time for the phrase ‘sent to the stands’.

That’s still not the biggest problem. No, the biggest problem among the very, very many problems with putting a current member of the playing squad in charge is that the most plausible candidate has only just turned 20.

We’re being facetious. But only slightly. Archie Gray would be first among those currently playing, but only second overall from within this season’s squad.

If Spurs do go down this road, it would be Ben Davies wouldn’t it? He is the most/only Spurs man left in the building these days, the last fraying link with the lost era of Pochettino and Kane and Dele and Eriksen and Vertonghen and Alderweireld and Dembele and Son.

That means something given the sheer scale of the current disconnect between the fans and literally everyone else involved with the club from top to bottom, from the vast bulk of the current playing staff to the Arsenal men and nepo-babies in the boardroom.

But it’s still just obviously an entirely ridiculous idea. Throwing Davies into the deep end would likely be another f*cking mess and an end to a decade of tireless service to Spurs that Davies frankly doesn’t deserve.

Yet Spurs are now so entirely That Club that they can make their injured back-up left-back appear a viable managerial candidate.

The key, though, is this. Spurs were obviously right to move on from Tudor, but that is only the first and easier of two necessary steps and there is no obvious good option for the far harder bit. That is the true depth of the absurd mess in which Spurs now find themselves.

They can appoint a seasoned firefighter. They can appoint a club man. They can appoint someone who knows the league. They can appoint someone who knows the squad.

What they can’t do is appoint anyone who doesn’t have a high chance of overseeing another f*cking mess.

Tottenham defender Ben Davies is one of seven ‘potential options’ to replace Igor Tudor for the rest of the season.

Tudor has left the club after six turbulent weeks in charge in which he lost five, drew one and won one of his seven matches in charge to leave Spurs in 17th position, just one point above 18th-placed West Ham, with Forest now two points ahead of them in the Premier League table.

READ: Who will be Spurs manager next season? Pochettino drifting as drop threat rises

The Tottenham statement confirming his exit read: ‘We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for Head Coach Igor Tudor to leave the Club with immediate effect.

‘Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci have also left their respective roles of Goalkeeping Coach and Physical Coach.

‘We thank Igor, Tomislav and Riccardo for their efforts during the past six weeks, in which they worked tirelessly.

‘We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time.

‘An update on a new Head Coach will be provided in due course.’

Tottenham expert Alasdair Gold subsequently revealed that the club ‘expect to appoint a new head coach in the next couple of days’.

He added for football.london: ‘Spurs are looking to have a new head coach in place in time for when the players are back from international duty, giving them all 10 days to work together ahead of the Premier League game at Sunderland.

‘Coach Bruno Saltor has remained and will lead training for those handful of Tottenham players at Hotspur Way at the moment.’

Mauricio Pochettino has been heavily linked with a second stint at Spurs, but won’t return this season as he’s set to lead USMNT at the World Cup.

Former Brighton and Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi is said to be keen on the permanent position but has ruled out taking over with the club in a relegation battle this term.

Sean Dyche recently laughed off speculation linking him with Spurs in a firefighting role after he was sacked by Nottingham Forest, but is one of seven ‘potential options’ named by The Telegraph for an interim role.

Ex-Spurs managers Harry Redknapp, Glenn Hoddle and Tim Sherwood are in the frame, along with former assistant Chris Hughton, while ‘checks have been made on former Monaco coach Ali Hutter’.

While Ben Davies – who’s made 363 appearances for Spurs – is also in the mix as a player-manager option.

Igor Tudor has left Tottenham by mutual consent on Sunday and the timeframe for the club to appoint his replacement has been revealed.

Tudor has left the club after six turbulent weeks in charge in which he lost five, drew one and won one of his seven matches in charge to leave Spurs in 17th position, just one point above 18th-placed West Ham, with Forest now two points ahead of them in the Premier League table.

READ: Who will be Spurs manager next season? Pochettino drifting as drop threat rises

The Tottenham statement confirming his exit read: ‘We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for Head Coach Igor Tudor to leave the Club with immediate effect.

‘Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci have also left their respective roles of Goalkeeping Coach and Physical Coach.

‘We thank Igor, Tomislav and Riccardo for their efforts during the past six weeks, in which they worked tirelessly.

‘We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time.

‘An update on a new Head Coach will be provided in due course.’

And Tottenham expert Alasdair Gold has subsequently revealed that the club ‘expect to appoint a new head coach in the next couple of days’.

He added for football.london: ‘Spurs are looking to have a new head coach in place in time for when the players are back from international duty, giving them all 10 days to work together ahead of the Premier League game at Sunderland.

‘Coach Bruno Saltor has remained and will lead training for those handful of Tottenham players at Hotspur Way at the moment.’

Sean Dyche has been linked with a quick return to Premier League management after being sacked by Nottingham Forest in February but laughed off speculation last week.

Mauricio Pochettino is one of the favourites to take on the role, but not this season as he’s set to lead USMNT at the World Cup, and another top candidate Roberto De Zerbi is also said to have ruled out taking over the club in a relegation battle.

It means Spurs will likely look for another interim option with Ryan Mason – who’s done it twice before – and even Harry Redknapp named as possibilities.

But former Tottenham scout Bryan King has backed Chris Hughton, a former colleague of his at the club, to oversea a necessary “massive overhaul”.

“I worked with Chris when I was at Tottenham, and he was the assistant to Martin Jol. He’s very knowledgeable, and he’s a Spurs man,” King told Tottenham News.

“The situation isn’t only the manager, but they need someone to come in who will get a reaction from the players. It will be interesting to see how he would get on.

“He’s a good man, but Chris’ first job would be to sort out the back room, that’s as much of a problem as on the pitch.

“I just think he will have to come in as manager and help restructure the club in a massive overhaul.”

Tottenham have confirmed that Igor Tudor has left the club by mutual consent.

Tudor’s side were hammered by relegation rivals Nottingham Forest before the international break with Igor Jesus, Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi scoring the goals for the visitors in a 3-0 win over Spurs.

Tudor’s time at Tottenham has been a disaster, after replacing Thomas Frank earlier this year, with the Croatian losing five, drawing one and winning one of his seven matches in charge.

The defeat last weekend means that Tottenham are now down in 17th position, just one point above 18th-placed West Ham, with Forest now two points ahead of them in the Premier League table.

TEAMtalk were first to reveal that Tudor was about to leave Tottenham by ‘mutual consent’ after their loss to Nottingham Forest.

The website added: ‘Sources indicate that Tudor himself is ready to step away following the recent death of his father, Mario, and it is believed both parties have now aligned on a mutual parting of the ways.’

READ: Who will be Spurs manager next season? Pochettino drifting as drop threat rises

And now Tottenham have confirmed Tudor has indeed ‘mutually agreed’ to leave the club.

The statement read: ‘We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for Head Coach Igor Tudor to leave the Club with immediate effect.

‘Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci have also left their respective roles of Goalkeeping Coach and Physical Coach.

‘We thank Igor, Tomislav and Riccardo for their efforts during the past six weeks, in which they worked tirelessly.

‘We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time.

‘An update on a new Head Coach will be provided in due course.’

Sean Dyche has been linked with a firefighting role but would prefer a contract beyond the end of the season.

Roberto De Zerbi is thought to be their top target, but as Fabrizio Romano explained last week, the former Brighton and Marseille boss is “not going to Tottenham” as they battle relegation this season.

He told his YouTube channel on Monday: “Guys, let me tell you, I told you, I think several times here on the channel, Roberto De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino – these are the two main names for Tottenham Hotspur permanent job in the summer. So, this remains the situation – De Zerbi and Pochettino.

“Obviously, De Zerbi could be easier because he’s available, so he can have conversations now, while Pochettino is fully focused on the US men national team for the World Cup, so that’s the situation, but, for sure, Roberto De Zerbi is a big name to consider for Tottenham.

“What’s needed is Tottenham to stay in the Premier League because if they go down to the Championship, obviously, it’s going to be a completely different situation.

“But Roberto De Zerbi, for sure, is a candidate for Tottenham job. That’s not new. He is a strong candidate for Tottenham job in the summer, not now.

“Now De Zerbi is not going to Tottenham. He’s an eventual topic for the summer if they stay in the Premier League.

“That’s what I always told you, and that’s what remains the situation as of today.”

The prospect of Tottenham Hotspur playing Championship football in 2026 has moved from a dark joke to a mathematical probability.

Spurs are currently winless in the league this calendar year, taking just five points from a possible 39. With interim boss Igor Tudor set to leave by mutual consent following the death of his father, the club is reportedly in talks with Adi Hutter to lead a final seven-game survival mission.

According to Danny Murphy, the issue isn’t just a lack of points, but a fundamental lack of the stomach required to survive at the bottom of the table.

Speaking on talkSPORT, the former Liverpool midfielder delivered a scathing assessment of a squad he believes is ill-equipped for a dogfight.

“They (Tottenham) look all over the place,” Murphy said.

“They showed a bit of resilience second half of Liverpool. Other than that, the games I’ve seen have been pretty woeful. And they don’t look together…”

“When you’re fighting down on the bottom, the one thing you’ve got to have is resilience and togetherness and a desire to defend. The really worrying thing (against Forest) was the capitulation.

“The energy didn’t go the other way, which it should do when you’re 1-0 down in terms of your reaction. They shrunk. They shrunk and it looked, there was a bit of fear in them, which is understandable because they’ve struggled at home so badly.”

While Spurs have been linked with “project” managers like Hutter, Murphy suggested that the club’s survival might require a much more pragmatic, if unpopular, solution.

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“Well, right now, the one who screams at me, but he’s not Tottenham, is Sam Allardyce,” Murphy admitted. “He’s the man who knows how to get results, but he’s been out of the game for a while, so it’s probably unrealistic.”

“The expectation of the crowd is there, the disgruntlement’s there, and it takes a strong mindset to play through that. Defensively, you have to be clued up, switched on, and do the basics right. And they don’t. They don’t. And that’s the coach’s fault.”

“I don’t know, I’ve got a feeling no (Spurs won’t stay up) at the minute… When I watch Forest’s second half against Tottenham, they didn’t half have a good shape without the ball. Really good shape.”

The fixture list offers very little breathing room. While West Ham and Leeds have arguably kinder run-ins, Tottenham face daunting away-day trips to Sunderland, Wolves, Aston Villa, and Chelsea.

“West Ham now under Nuno. They’ve got a good shape, good platform. I know Villa beat them. Villa are a good side. You know, you can go to Villa when you’re playing well, never mind when you’re (down the bottom) and get beat. But that was only West Ham’s second defeat in seven. So they’ve got a bit about them. They’re having a go.”

“And the reason I think Tottenham, if they keep the manager, will go is because I don’t see anybody who’s just about to get fit or sitting on the bench waiting in the wings who’s got the capability of grabbing a game and calming everybody down and getting them playing… I’ve looked at all the teams’ fixtures down there, and I think they (Tottenham) are struggling.”