Could a second managerial change of the season be set to take place at Tottenham Hotspur?
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Tottenham Hotspur are in desperate circumstances after Sunday saw the Lilywhites fall to a damaging 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, which left Igor Tudor’s side just a point and a single place above the Premier League relegation zone with seven matches to play.
The defeat to one of their closest relegation rivals firmly put the spotlight back on interim head coach Tudor, who has seen one draw and four defeats from his five league fixtures since taking over from Thomas Frank. Safe to say, that the appointment has not worked as the Spurs hierarchy hoped it would, and reports are beginning to circulate that Tudor might not still be in the dugout by the end of the international break.
The three-week break from domestic action allows for the board to consider their options wisely, as the precarious position in which Spurs find themselves has become abundantly clear and their top-flight status is on the line.
Adi Hutter linked with Spurs job - he could be their only hope
According to reports by The Telegraph in the aftermath of Sunday’s defeat at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it was stated that Spurs are considering appointing Adi Hütter amid a ‘contingency plan’ if they do opt to relieve Tudor of his duties in north London.
Former AS Monaco boss Hütter is currently out of work and available to take over to save the Lilywhites, who are in serious danger of relegation and must act fast if the board feel that Tudor is not the man to save them from the drop.
Formerly manager of Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Monchengladbach before his time at Monaco – where he managed former Spurs star Eric Dier – Hütter has top European pedigree and has been compared with England boss Thomas Tuchel in terms of his style of play. Further comparisons with the likes of Jurgen Klopp reflect the high-energy brand of football the Austrian would look to bring to the Premier League – and he could be just the man Spurs need to save them from the drop.
Spurs must act fast to bring in Hütter and save their season
Though eyebrows would undoubtedly be raised at the appointment by Spurs of a second firefighter manager without previous Premier League experience, it is important to consider both the options currently available and the players Spurs have at their disposal.
Appointing a traditional relegation specialist such as Sean Dyche might seem a good idea in principle, but the likelihood is that many of Tottenham’s high-profile players might not necessarily respond to his methods. Besides, playing a more pragmatic style of football has evidently not worked for them in any capacity this season.
Former Spurs men have also been touted with a return to the club. But Robbie Keane is unlikely to leave his role at Ferencváros for a temporary job amidst recent links with Celtic, and Harry Redknapp is 79, which carries its own risks after a long stretch out of the game. Meanwhile, Tim Sherwood’s ‘come get me’ pleas certainly raise eyebrows considering he has managed just one club since leaving Spurs 12 years ago.
There is not a plethora of options available at present, but Hütter might just be the man who could yet steer Spurs away from danger. His high-pressing, attacking style of play would suit the club’s players and allow them to make the most out of their forward talent, particularly if the likes of Mohammed Kudus and James Maddison return before the end of the season.
“I like for my teams to play aggressive football in a good way, to be proactive, with a clear idea of how to play,” Hutter said in 2023 when he was named Monaco boss. “This must go with the desire to have a conquering state of mind, to show character, when you lose the ball for example. It is important that everyone finds their place in this vision.”
While former Spurs ace Dier added last year: “Coach Adi Hütter's style at Monaco is similar to the aggressive play I performed at Bayern last year. I believe I showed my abilities well enough. I really like this style of play. Now I must prove that ability on the field.”
Spurs face a worrying task to survive in the top flight as the real risk of relegation to the Championship looms large. But if there is one man who can lead them to safety, it might just be Hütter.