Tottenham appointed De Zerbi as head coach on 31 March 2026 on a long-term (five-year) contract. He replaced Igor Tudor – who had only been in the role briefly – as Spurs’ third manager of the 2025/26 season.
Spurs were struggling near the relegation zone at the time, so the appointment came with high expectations for both short-term survival and a return to an attacking, high-pressing style.
“Roberto and I talked about Tottenham when we worked together at Brighton, because it was one of the clubs he looked to when he was growing up, for the flair, “the game is about the glory”, the Bill Nicholson way. He was very aware, going into Tottenham, not only the size of the club and the expectations, not just on staying up this season, but the way they play, and what the fans expect there. I think he’s a good fit there, he is a fantastic coach, a really good person, an intense character. I think the fans will really respond to his way of coaching the team from the technical area.”
This quote is from Paul Barber (speaking on The Sports Agents), Brighton’s CEO (and a lifelong Tottenham supporter). He worked with Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton (where Barber was instrumental in appointing him after Graham Potter left) and gave these comments praising the Italian as a strong fit for Spurs.
Barber’s comments highlight De Zerbi’s long-standing admiration for Tottenham’s tradition of flair and “the glory” (echoing Bill Nicholson’s famous philosophy). His awareness of the club’s size, fan expectations, and playing identity. This is a personal endorsement of De Zerbi as a high-intensity, technically focused coach who should connect well with the Spurs faithful.
De Zerbi is known for his proactive, possession-based style with high pressing and attacking flair — which aligns with what many Tottenham fans have historically wanted, even if results have been mixed in his previous roles (Brighton, Marseille, etc.).
Early days under him at Spurs will see him focus on climbing the table while building longer-term momentum.