Nedum Onuoha, who had an impressive 14-season career in the Premier League, played for clubs such as Manchester City, Sunderland, and Queens Park Rangers. He concluded his playing days with MLS side Real Salt Lake. Since joining ESPN in 2020, he has become a prominent voice on ESPN FC, serving as the lead studio analyst in England, where his columns reflect the insights of a former player on current football issues.
Changing managers midseason can feel like a jarring experience for players, akin to a hostile reintroduction. It often resembles a mini-preseason where players must quickly prove themselves in a highly uncertain atmosphere. For those players at Tottenham Hotspur witnessing Thomas Frank’s departure and Igor Tudor’s arrival, the challenge is compounded by the fact that Tudor lacks Premier League experience, both as a player and a coach.
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The football fraternity in England is extensive yet can feel quite intimate over time. Players maintain connections with friends, former teammates, and coaches throughout the system. A few Spurs players—Rodrigo Bentancur, Radu Dragusin, and Dejan Kulusevski—have crossed paths with Tudor during his time on Andrea Pirlo’s coaching staff at Juventus. Other players will likely reach out to them and others in their network to gather insights on the new manager.
England U-21 international Lloyd Kelly, who has played for AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United before joining Juventus last year, will likely receive calls and messages from Spurs players eager for insights about Tudor, who was his coach for seven months at Juve.
Tudor’s appointment came as a surprise, and many Spurs players may initially be unaware of his coaching style or personality. Nevertheless, they’ll likely consult their peers and industry contacts to understand how he operates, what his training style looks like, and the expectations he sets for his players.
Regardless of their feelings about the new hire, Spurs players will aim to establish a solid start under Tudor. He will preside over only 12 Premier League matches and will face scrutiny over how far Spurs progress in the UEFA Champions League.
Players are likely to quickly assess the new coach but certainly wish to finish the season strong—no one wants to be part of the first Spurs squad to be relegated in nearly 50 years. Individual pride hangs in the balance for many, as they seek to secure spots for the FIFA World Cup with their national teams.
Sunday’s clash against Arsenal—Tudor’s inaugural game—carries significant weight for the players, as they seek to avoid falling out of favor with their supporters. A poor performance against their fiercest rivals at home could severely test their relationship with the fanbase.
Should the start be rocky, some players might disengage. I’ve witnessed instances where a player has informed a coach that they’ll outlast him, signaling a turning point for the dynamic.
Change was expected for Spurs players. My own experience indicates that managerial shifts rarely come as a genuine surprise. Managers are human and often struggle to maintain the status quo while facing potential dismissal.
As pressures mount, players may begin to express resentment toward various aspects—including outcomes and previously mundane issues. You can often tell when a team’s spirit has waned, sometimes due to results but also because of departures from values that previously characterized their approach.
A new manager can reinvigorate a squad—offering a clean slate. If he sets clear expectations for training and behavior, players are likely to adhere. However, as time progresses, it’s human nature for some to make concessions for select individuals. Tudor’s short contract might make it challenging to reach that point.
In his interim role, Tudor has the opportunity to make an immediate impact—motivating and organizing the squad to fulfill his mission of keeping Spurs competitive. There is undeniable potential within the team, but the interim capacity might complicate support among players. A similar situation unfolded during Ralf Rangnick’s unsuccessful six-month interim tenure at Manchester United in 2022.
When Roberto Mancini took over from Mark Hughes at Manchester City in 2009, he lacked immediate gravitas among the players. However, as the first appointment under new ownership, he held the authority to implement significant changes. His style was definitive; he enforced rigorous standards, even forbidding laughter during warm-up exercises.
Mancini’s potential was recognized, which supported his authoritative role. Conversely, Spurs players are aware that Tudor is unlikely to be a long-term solution, appearing to be a risky choice by the club at a critical juncture.
From my experiences of managerial changes midseason, the overall impact is rarely favorable. Mancini was perhaps the exception, as he improved the team’s performance, yet typically, new coaches highlight fitness issues to buy time if early results fall short—blaming the previous coach for fitness deficiencies.
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Was Nottingham Forest right to sack Sean Dyche?
ESPN’s Nedum Onuoha and Julien Laurens discuss Nottingham Forest’s decision to sack Sean Dyche after just 114 days in charge.
The situation at Nottingham Forest is on an entirely different level, now experiencing their fourth coaching change of the season after Vítor Pereira took over from Sean Dyche, who replaced Ange Postecoglou, the early-season successor to Nuno Espírito Santo.
Their campaign has been chaotic, hopping between various playing styles, yet Pereira seems to be the most sensible choice among the series of appointments. With experience in the league and a track record of making an immediate impact at Wolverhampton Wanderers, he also presents a more personable demeanor than previous Forest coaches.
If I were among the Forest squad, the prospect of enduring four managers in a single season could breed doubts about my place at the club. Yet, a couple of good weeks could lead them to Premier League stability, revealing a light at the end of the tunnel.
Spurs should also possess sufficient talent to remain safe, but Tudor’s appointment is undeniably peculiar. Time will reveal if he is the right fit or if his hiring signifies an impulsive decision by the club.
Nedum Onuoha was conversing with ESPN senior writer Mark Ogden