Mansion Sports – Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their new manager in a desperate bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Spurs currently sit 17th in the table, just one point above the relegation zone, with seven matches remaining in the season.

Spurs Appoint De Zerbi

Tottenham have confirmed that the former Olympique de Marseille and Brighton & Hove Albion coach has agreed to take over, signing a long-term contract following the departure of interim manager Igor Tudor. De Zerbi had long been a managerial target for the club.

De Zerbi stated: “I am very pleased to join this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world.

“In all my discussions with the club’s leadership, their ambition for the future was very clear—to build a team capable of achieving great accomplishments, and to do so with an attractive style of play that inspires our supporters. I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to make it a reality.

“Our short-term priority is to climb the Premier League table, which will be our full focus until the final whistle of the last match of the season. I look forward to being on the training ground immediately and working with these players to achieve that.”

Spurs’ Major Challenges

Spurs face the very real threat of relegation from the Premier League, and De Zerbi has very limited time to make an immediate impact.

Nevertheless, sporting director Johan Lange praised the appointment, stating: “Roberto was our number one target for the summer, and we are very pleased to bring him in now.

“He is one of the most creative and forward-thinking coaches in world football, bringing extensive experience at the highest level, including in the Premier League.”

Rio Ferdinand, one of the commentators, described the appointment as a risky one, saying:

“At this moment, I am more concerned about the management team; I will look there. Why has everything gone so wrong for so many people? Big names, new… why can’t this place move forward? I don’t understand it because they have everything… will they [management] be an obstacle for me [the next Tottenham manager] behind the scenes? Will they further damage my reputation now? What is the situation here?”

What’s Next?

Spurs will face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light next weekend in De Zerbi’s first match as head coach.

He will not manage a home game until April 18, when Spurs face his former club, Brighton & Hove Albion.