Igor Tudor will go down in history at Tottenham Hotspur as the manager who attempted to tackle a blaze with gasoline instead of water, if he is remembered at all.
The two sides parted ways on Sunday, just 43 days after he took over from Thomas Frank with the aim of landing the position permanently. The club’s mission for him was straightforward, according to an official statement at the time: “To enhance performances, achieve results, and elevate Spurs in the Premier League standings.”
Unfortunately, Tudor’s tenure turned into a complete disaster. Depending on how the season unfolds, his brief time in charge might either hasten Tottenham’s fall toward the brink of relegation or be relegated to a mere footnote in what is proving to be one of the club’s worst seasons in its 143-year existence.
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However, blame does not rest solely on Tudor’s shoulders. Since the start of the previous season, Spurs have succumbed to a staggering 46 defeats across all competitions. Although they secured the UEFA Europa League trophy under Ange Postecoglou, a decline in domestic performance set in during the latter half of last year, revealing issues deeper than many realized. Fans are now engulfed in anger and apathy, feeling their club is adrift without a clear direction from ownership.
ESPN sources report that Tottenham is working to persuade Roberto De Zerbi to become their next head coach. Sources indicate the Italian has expressed openness to the role but prefers to take it at the end of the season, provided Spurs remain in the Premier League.
With Tudor’s exit, Spurs are now aiming to convince him to join right away, as they find themselves in desperate need of a turnaround for the third time this season. Here’s a recap of how Tudor’s short stint turned sour.
Disastrous Beginnings
In a rare media interview on February 20, sporting director Johan Lange shed light on why Tudor was selected for the role.
“We interviewed several candidates,” he stated. “Igor made a significant impression in the interview process. We gathered references confirming his extensive experience at the top levels of football.”
“He has a proven track record of joining clubs during crucial periods—February, March—and making an immediate impact. This was a key factor in our decision.”
His previous successes, including tenures at Udinese (twice), Hellas Verona, Lazio, and Juventus, where he raised the points-per-game averages for each team during his midseason arrivals, lent credibility to his appointment.
“There’s a significant difference between taking charge on July 1 and having six or seven weeks to prepare to know the club,” Lange added. “Coming in midseason, where you might have just a day or two before the next match, demands immediate relationship-building with the players.”
According to sources, Tudor quickly sought to amp up training intensity, convinced that the players needed to be more fit. Intensive workouts became his standard. Publicly, he confidently stated he was “100% convinced” that Spurs would avoid relegation, asserting that discussing the possibility was almost unnecessary. (Tudor leaves with Spurs sitting in 17th place, just one point above the relegation zone with seven matches left.)
His debut match was against Premier League leaders Arsenal at home. Despite being a daunting challenge, it presented an opportunity to rally the fanbase behind a managerial choice that was met with skepticism.
Yet, calamity ensued. Spurs went into halftime tied at 1-1, but this was more due to Arsenal’s lack of focus. The Gunners sharpened their game in the second half, claiming a 4-1 victory. Following the match, Tudor candidly addressed the collective shortcomings he quickly identified.
“What are this club’s goals? What are our objectives as a team, as players, as coaching staff?” he questioned. “We need to take things seriously. It’s time for everyone to reflect and genuinely commit to changing our habits.”
When they suffered a 2-1 loss against Fulham a week later, he bluntly expressed that the team “lacked everything” on the pitch. Internal reaction to Tudor’s harsh criticism of the players, who were already struggling with confidence, were mixed.
This could explain his contrasting response following a third consecutive defeat against Crystal Palace on March 5, where he claimed to have “more belief than ever” in the team, despite the results not reflecting any improvement.
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A Nightmare Scenario
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario had struggled through the season, facing jeers from fans during Frank’s tenure. Therefore, Tudor’s decision to bench him in favor of Antonín Kinsky for the away game against Atlético Madrid came as a shock.
However, the situation turned disastrous, as Kinsky made mistakes leading to two early goals and was replaced just 17 minutes into the UEFA Champions League round-of-16 match. Tudor did not console Kinsky as he left the field, instead allowing Conor Gallagher, João Palhinha, and Dominic Solanke to follow him into the tunnel.
This substitution marked the earliest a goalkeeper has ever been taken off in a Champions League knockout match. Sources confirmed that Tudor’s approach stunned several players, while others felt a hardline stance was essential to convey the seriousness of their predicament.
Additionally, Tudor made various tactical adjustments—switching between a back three and a back four, and even positioning a natural full-back, Pedro Porro, as a centre-back in a match against Palace—all in search of a winning strategy.
While he urged players to “be on board,” sources mention that Tudor quickly harbored concerns regarding the character of some first-team members.
Spurs suffered a 5-2 defeat in Madrid, prompting increased calls for Tudor’s dismissal from outside the club.
A False Dawn and Bitter Conclusion
Following the loss to Atlético, ESPN reported that Tudor would lead the team against Liverpool. Though Tottenham has only managed two victories at Anfield during the Premier League era, they showed resilience to secure a 1-1 draw thanks to a late equalizer from Richarlison.
Despite contending with 13 injured players, Tottenham earned the draw at Liverpool, extending their winless streak to three months, yet this provided a sense of momentum as they faced Atlético Madrid again at home, registering a 3-2 victory. While they were eliminated from the Champions League—losing 7-5 on aggregate—this win marked their first in eight weeks and seemed to set the stage for a crucial home clash against relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.
In preparation, Spurs pulled out all the stops to energize the supporters, offering drink promotions for early arrivals and encouraging fans to line the streets to greet the team bus, while captain Cristian Romero‘s pre-match message on social media acted as a rallying cry.
As a result, the atmosphere before kickoff was electric. Spurs began strongly but failed to capitalize, and after Igor Jesus scored for Forest right before the half, Spurs fell 3-0.
Sources indicate that under Frank, there was a sentiment that the team struggled to cope with setbacks, and part of his work was focused on improving this aspect. Tudor inherited numerous problems, including a squad riddled with injuries, a fractured relationship between the club and its fans, and an overarching sense of a team adrift just as they were when Frank was dismissed less than two months previously.
After the defeat against Forest, Tudor learned of his father’s passing, leading to compassionate leave before both parties mutually agreed to part ways on Sunday. With the managerial position now vacant, the quest for a new leader begins.
Major questions loom for Lange and CEO Vinai Venkatesham regarding the rationale behind Tudor’s hiring. With De Zerbi in their sights, it is crucial they make the right appointment; otherwise, Tottenham may find their organization on the verge of collapse.