Slow burner - De Zerbi's struggles as mid-season appointment
Tottenham need Roberto de Zerbi to make an instant impact, with the club one place and one point above the Premier League relegation zone and just seven games of the season remaining.
Yet his record at previous clubs suggests De Zerbi has initially struggled to turn teams around.
The Italian has taken over mid-season at three different clubs and his record in the first seven games has not been great.
De Zerbi managed just one win at Palermo in 2016 before eventually getting the sack, and no wins at Benevento the following season as they were relegated from Serie A.
Then, in 2022, he struggled early in his tenure at Brighton as the Seagulls claimed just eight points from his first seven games, but went on to qualify for Europe.
De Zerbi's record in his first seven games at clubs where he has taken over mid-season:
Palermo, 2016
One win
Two draws
Four defeats
Five points
Benevento, 2017
No wins
One draw
Six defeats
One point
Brighton, 2022
Two wins
Two draws
Three defeats
Eight points
De Zerbi's unquestionable impact at Brighton
Roberto de Zerbi had 89 games as manager of Brighton in all competitions, recording a win rate of 42.7%.
His win rate in the Premier League was marginally lower - 37% from 70 games.
But his impact was unquestionable.
After being appointed as a replacement for Graham Potter in September 2022, the Italian's high-pressing style helped the Seagulls to a sixth-placed finish in his first season, taking them into Europe for the first time.
De Zerbi's Premier League record at Brighton:
Games - 70
Won - 26
Drawn - 19
Lost - 25
Points per game - 1.39
Win rate - 37%
De Zerbi's managerial history
Roberto de Zerbi already has a managerial CV spanning eight different teams, despite being just 46 years of age.
After retiring from playing in 2013, De Zerbi immediately went into management with lower league Italian side, Darfo Boario.
From there, he jumped around several Italian clubs before earning his first major move to Ukrainian giants, Shakhtar Donetsk.
He won the Ukrainian Super Cup in his first season and led them to the top of the league before departing the club in July 2022 prior to the conclusion of the campaign as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In September 2022, he succeed Graham Potter as manager of Brighton and led the club to the FA Cup semi-final in his first season, along with a sixth-place finish in the Premier League - securing European football for the first time in the club's history.
His most recent managerial spell came in France with Ligue 1 side Marseille. He led the club to a second-place finish in his first season behind champions Paris St-Germain.
De Zerbi left in February of 2026 following the team's exit from the Champions League league phase. The club were fourth in Ligue 1 at the time.
Spurs tried to bring in De Zerbi after Frank exit
Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent
De Zerbi was overwhelmingly the clubâs number one choice for the position. The attraction to the Italian was based on his prior Premier League experience, his tactical acumen and the his reputation for playing attacking football.
The club tried to bring him to the club after Thomas Frank left, but it was deemed too soon given he left Marseille on the same day.
De Zerbi was viewed as the best option for the long term of the club and allows the club to plan for the summer transfer window, and he has time to experience working with the current options.
He was also viewed as the best option for short-term with no other highly-credible coach on the market now.
There was also a view taken that itâs best for players not to have another interim.
No relegation clause in De Zerbi contract
Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent
Roberto De Zerbi does not have a relegation clause in his Tottenham contract as the Premier League club close in on appointing the Italian as their new head coach.
De Zerbi is finalising a deal to become the clubâs new boss on a five year contract with his first target being to lead the club to safety.
Spurs are currently in 17th, one point clear of the relegation zone with just seven matches to play.
But even if Spurs are relegated, sources have told BBC Sport that the deal to take De Zerbi to Spurs does not include a clause that allows the Italian to walk away from the club if they are in the Championship next season.
It is understood De Zerbi is fully committed to rebuilding Tottenham and views the position as long term project regardless of which division they are playing in.
De Zerbi 'overwhelming first-choice' for job
Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent
Roberto De Zerbi has been the overwhelming first-choice to become the clubâs new permanent head coach and according to well-placed sources, all parties have now struck a deal for the former Brighton manager to become the clubâs new manager on a permanent basis with an announcement expected in due course.
BBC Sport reported on Sunday that De Zerbi was the man Spurs wanted to replace Igor Tudor, who officially left the club by mutual consent over the weekend. Talks have been ongoing since Sunday and those discussions have been successful.
While De Zerbi was always open to taking the Spurs position, it is understood he initially showed a reluctance to accept the job before the end of the season.
But the coach, who left Marseille earlier this year, had been persuaded to take the job immediately.