Igor Tudor will be the man in the dugout for Tottenham until the end of the season, but he wasn’t the first manager they approached over the last week.
After sacking Thomas Frank, there was much speculation over who would replace him at Spurs. While Mauricio Pochettino is thought to be the top target, the fact that he is still in a job with the USA made that very difficult for the Lilywhites.
Instead, the club opted for an interim manager until the end of the season, with Igor Tudor eventually getting the gig.
Fans are torn on Tudor so far, but it’s probably best to reserve judgment until at least after his first game. However, he very nearly didn’t get the job, with Spurs apparently, having a different idea entirely.
Tottenham wanted Abel Ferreira instead
According to a report from ESPN Brazil, Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira was actually the man Tottenham approached before they turned their attention to Tudor.
Interestingly, the report claims Spurs actually reached out to Ferreira about two weeks ago, before Frank was sacked. But, with the Portuguese coach having just signed a contract extension (through to 2027), he did not want to discuss terms with the Lilywhites.
Ferreira has already reportedly rejected Nottingham Forest, Wolverhampton and even Chelsea in the past few months. It’s thought he is not a man easily tempted by financial benefits or prestige, and instead prioritises an environment with strong organisation, planning and structure.
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The report adds that Tottenham also considered Robbie Keane, Marco Rose, and Roberto De Zerbi before landing Tudor for the temporary gig.
Will Spurs go back for Ferreira in the summer?
Tudor may have a good record in short-term roles like this one, but he is almost certainly not going to be the Tottenham manager beyond this season.
Instead, it’s thought Spurs will go for a high-profile appointment in the summer. Pochettino would appear to be the ideal candidate in that regard, while De Zerbi is an option that cannot be ruled out.
However, assuming Tottenham can steady the ship and resolve any issues behind the scenes ahead of next season, it could be that Ferreira does become interested in the project here in North London.
The club already know he is not an easy target by any means, but that surely won’t stop them from at least asking again in a few months.