Roberto De Zerbi takes over as Tottenham head coach on a long-term deal, with survival the priority. Spurs sit 17th in the Premier League on 30 points from 31 matches, just one point clear of the relegation places, and have not won any of their 13 league games in 2026 so far.

The situation became more severe after a 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest before the international break. That result left Tottenham on their joint-second-longest winless league sequence, matching a 13-game run from November 1912, and increased pressure on Igor Tudor, who departed after only 44 days in charge.

Tudor’s brief spell ranks as the fourth-shortest tenure for any permanent Premier League head coach. Tudor oversaw five league matches, recording four defeats and one draw, with the single point coming from a 1-1 result away to Liverpool. The club hierarchy then moved quickly to secure a longer-term solution.

De Zerbi has signed what is reported to be a five-year contract, although the club only describe it as long-term. The decision was said to be unanimous among the board and ownership, who preferred a manager committed beyond this season, rather than a specialist short-term appointment focused only on avoiding relegation.

“I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world,” De Zerbi told Spurs’ website. “In all my discussions with the club’s leadership, their ambition for the future has been clearto build a team capable of reaching great achievements, and to do that by playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters.”

De Zerbi stressed that long-range plans will not distract from the current league battle. “I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to deliver it. Our short-term priority is to climb the Premier League table, which will be the complete focus until the final whistle of the last game of the season. I’m looking forward to getting out on the training pitch and working with these players to achieve that.”

The Italian’s first match in charge will be away to Sunderland on 12 April. Tottenham are still searching for a first Premier League victory of 2026, with their league run this calendar year standing at five draws and eight defeats, and their current 30-point tally matching their joint-lowest return after 31 league fixtures, alongside the 1914-15 campaign.

The club announced the appointment with an official statement alongside a social media post.

Roberto De Zerbi Tottenham head coach profile and recent record

Sporting director Johan Lange explained why the club moved for De Zerbi at this stage. “Roberto was our number one target for the summer, and we are very pleased to be able to bring him in now. He is one of the most creative and forward-thinking coaches in world football and brings with him a wealth of experience at the highest level, including in the Premier League.”

De Zerbi arrives at Tottenham after leaving Marseille in February, shortly following a 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. During 69 matches in all competitions with Marseille, De Zerbi won 39 games, drew 10 and lost 20, giving a win percentage of 56.5%, while his side scored 156 goals and conceded 91.

Before working in France, De Zerbi coached Brighton in the Premier League for just under two seasons. With Brighton, De Zerbi managed 70 games in all competitions, winning 26 of them, drawing 17 and losing 27, which produced a 37.1% win rate and helped strengthen his reputation within English football circles.

Roberto De Zerbi Tottenham head coach challenge in the Premier League

Tottenham’s current league numbers underline the scale of the task for De Zerbi. Their 30 points after 31 matches, adjusted to three points for a win across all seasons, matches the lowest tally at that stage in any league campaign, a figure previously recorded in 1914-15, illustrating how fine the margin is above the relegation places.

With seven league fixtures remaining, De Zerbi must balance stabilising performances with installing preferred tactics. Spurs’ leadership hope the long-term agreement will support continuity beyond this season, but immediate attention stays fixed on ending the winless stretch, moving clear of the bottom three and rebuilding confidence within a squad still searching for a first league win of 2026.