Tottenham appoint Igor Tudor as interim manager
Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the appointment of Igor Tudor as interim head coach until the end of the season following the dismissal of Thomas Frank.
The Danish manager was sent packing after an abysmal run of one win from 11 Premier League games.
SportsView’s analysis also revealed that Frank left Spurs hovering dangerously above the relegation zone, nervously looking over their shoulders.
Tottenham have moved quickly to name a successor, although Tudor’s short-term deal runs out in the summer, with no option to make the move permanent.
Frank’s final game in charge ended in a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a result that summed up the struggles of recent months.
Tottenham have failed to win any of their last eight Premier League matches and have managed just two wins in their last 17 outings.
Those numbers have left them sitting 16th in the table, only five points above the relegation zone. It’s been a sobering slide for a club that started the campaign hoping to compete on all fronts.
Frank only spent eight months out of the three-year deal he signed with Tottenham after replacing his equally underwhelming predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, last summer.
Although, the Australian tactician managed to steer Tottenham to Europa League glory, ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought and maintaining his second-season title-winning ritual.
Frank was expected to lead Tottenham into a new era, but only managed 13 wins from 38 games across all competitions (L15) as his side failed to find any semblance of consistency.
He now passes that baton to Tudor, who has plenty of experience, particularly as an interim manager.
The former Croatia international has managed some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Juventus, Olympique Marseille and Galatasaray.
Tudor took charge of Lazio on an interim basis in March 2024 and guided them into the Europa League.
Last spring, he stepped in at Juventus after Thiago Motta’s departure and ensured the Italian giants secured Champions League football.
Despite helping them reach their goal, Tudor was dismissed in October after a seven-month spell that included an eight-game winless run.
Even so, his track record shows that he has the expertise to stabilise Tottenham on short notice.
Tottenham’s chief executive, Vinai Venkatesham, and technical director, Johan Lange, led the recruitment process to bring Tudor to North London.
They see the 47-year-old as someone who can bring calm and clarity during a tense period, while the club plans to widen their search for a permanent head coach in the summer.
“It is an honour to join this Club at an important moment,” Tudor said following his arrival.
“I understand the responsibility I have been handed, and my focus is clear. To bring greater consistency to our performances and compete with conviction in every match.
“There is strong quality in this playing squad, and my job is to organise it, energise it and improve our results quickly.”
On the appointment, Sporting Director Lange said: “Igor brings clarity, intensity and experience of stepping into challenging moments and producing impact.
“Our objective is straightforward – to stabilise performances, maximise the quality within the squad and compete strongly in the Premier League and Champions League.”
Tudor is familiar with some Tottenham players, having worked with a few of them at Juventus.
During his time as Andrea Pirlo’s assistant coach in the 2020/21 season, he built relationships with Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur, both of whom are key figures in the current Tottenham squad.
He also worked with Randal Kolo Muani, who joined Juventus on loan last season.
Tudor will be thrown straight into a trial by fire as he prepares to make his debut in a crucial North London derby showdown against Arsenal on home turf.
It’ll be interesting to see how the team adapts to his favoured 3-4-2-1 system in the coming months.
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