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Tottenham Hotspur's newly appointed manager Roberto De Zerbi has said he will be in north London "no matter what" next season, with the club facing a huge relegation battle. Spurs sit just one point ahead of 18th-placed West Ham with seven matches to go and were defeated 3-0 by Nottingham Forest last time out, in a game that proved to be the end of Igor Tudor's ill-fated tenure in north London.

Roberto De Zerbi has pledged his allegiance to new club Tottenham Hotspur by saying he will be coach ”no matter what" next season.

De Zerbi comes into the job as Spurs manager with a significant task on his hands, as his new club scramble to try and stay in the Premier League.

Spurs sit in 17th place and have not won a match in the league since December, which has seen them tumble towards the relegation zone.

Igor Tudor’s ill-fated stint in north London saw them notch just one point from five matches as their gap to the relegation zone shrunk to just one point.

Following a 3-0 home defeat to fellow relegation contenders Nottingham Forest, the Tudor experiment was swiftly ended and Spurs secured the services of De Zerbi.

The Italian managed Brighton & Hove Albion from 2022 until 2024, before taking the helm at Marseille and returning the French giants to the UEFA Champions League. But he departed Marseille in February and now joins Spurs on a five-year contract.

And De Zerbi says he will be manager of Tottenham next season, regardless of which division the club are in.

The 46-year-old said: ”I am very happy to be here. I consider Tottenham to be one of the most important clubs in the world and so I am very happy.

”I have a big responsibility, but it is a big challenge for me and I look forward to starting and working with the players, and to win some games.

”I have watched a lot of games, especially in the last period. I know very well the players, I love football, so I watch many, many games per week.

”I know everything, I know it is a tough moment for Tottenham but I think we have the right qualities to come out from this moment.

”I believe in the players, I think we have to remember who we are and who the players are, because we have very big players and we have to work on their confidence and their qualities.

”I signed a five-year contract because for me, it is a big challenge and I will be the coach of Tottenham next season no matter what.”

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Spurs face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on April 12 in their first match under De Zerbi, their third manager of the season after Thomas Frank was sacked in February.

The Londoners then welcome Brighton to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 18, in a game that has been highlighted as it is the first time De Zerbi will come up against his former club.

Spurs have won just two games at home all season, including a 3-0 win over Burnley on the opening weekend of the campaign, showing the size of the challenge De Zerbi has on his hands.

But he is taking a pragmatic approach and insisting that Spurs will be taking each game as it comes under his stewardship, starting with Sunderland.

”I think we have to be focused just on the Sunderland game, I don’t want to hear people talking about the Brighton game or the Wolverhampton game, it is game by game,” the Italian said.

”We have to prepare the players to win the game, to be focused just on the game, we have to play with courage.

”We have to play with the quality of the players because if I accepted this challenge, it is because I have big confidence in the players and the style in the history of Tottenham is a very clear style of play.”

Spurs fans attempted to gee up the players ahead of the game against Forest, with spectators turning out in their droves to cheer the team bus.

De Zerbi is hoping the fans can continue to support the club in what is sure to be a mammoth seven matches to come.

”The fans in the last seven games, especially in this moment are crucial, we have to be together," De Zerbi added.

”They have to stay close to the players and the players have to show the right mentality, the right attitude to give back to the fans and what they want to see on the pitch.

”After this part of the season, I think we can become great in the future.”

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Following his appointment as manager of non-league side Woking, Jermain Defoe has discussed his journey into coaching, diversity in England's dugouts and the experienced heads he has turned to for words of advice. It is the first managerial appointment for the former England forward, whose tenure in Surrey begins with a busy Easter weekend and his side hunting an unlikely play-off spot.

Jermaine Defoe said he is hopeful that the number of Black managers given opportunities in professional football will rise after taking charge of National League side Woking.

It is the first managerial role for the former Tottenham Hotspur and England striker, who has previously worked as part of an interim coaching staff with Rangers and in the Spurs academy.

The 43-year-old has become one of just five Black managers in the top five leagues of English football, but he hopes his appointment is a sign of improving diversity in dugouts across the country.

"It's something that's been spoken about for many years," Defoe told BBC Radio Surrey.

"I remember as a player, all the different campaigns and speaking to the likes of Les Ferdinand, Ian Wright, Andy Cole, that generation before me who did their coaching badges, and obviously, there was a lack of opportunities.

"I would like to think going forward, other Black managers now will get opportunities. Players that are still playing, hopefully in the future, they'll get opportunities.”

Defoe enjoyed an illustrious playing career, scoring 162 times in 496 Premier League appearances and 20 times in his 57 appearances for England.

Despite this, Defoe insists he has ”put in the hours” to develop as a manager and is now prepared to ”earn [his] stripes” in non-league.

"My mum's always said to me in life, you've got to be grateful for every opportunity you get," Defoe said. "You look at successful managers, everyone's journey has been different.

"It's important to appreciate the opportunity. When I was a player, a young 16-year-old at West Ham in the youth team, you have to earn your stripes. You have to do your apprenticeship.

"You can't expect, just because I've had a good career, I can't expect to just jump in at the top or get that big job.

"I never really cut any corners when I was a player. I know coaching and management is different, but when you love football, nothing changes.

"This is something that I've always wanted. You have to embrace it. I've waited a long time, I've done all the courses, I've put in the hours and now it's here. I'm going to enjoy this."

Defoe revealed that he has picked the brains of Sir Gareth Southgate, Lee Carsley and former team-mate Robbie Keane while building up his coaching credentials, while he has also spoken with some of his old managers.

"I'm lucky that I've played for some great managers," he said. "I got a message from big Sam (Allardyce) yesterday, which was nice. I still keep in contact with Harry (Redknapp).

"Towards the back end of my career, I remember Harry saying to me, 'You've got to go into management, you'll be brilliant'.”

Defoe takes over at Woking with the Surrey side sitting 10th in the National League, 11 points adrift of the play-off spots with six games remaining.

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Despite this gap and their run of three league games without a win, the former striker still has his sights set on League Two, which would mark new heights for Woking in their 139-year history.

"I don't want to sit here and say, right, we need to achieve this, we need to achieve that," Defoe added. ”We're ambitious people, I want to do well.

"The main objective is, of course, to get promoted with the players we've got, some top players. The games that I've watched, I've been really impressed.

"You have to be confident. I think you always have to back yourself, whether you're a player or a manager or a coach."

Defoe’s tenure begins with a busy Easter weekend, with Woking hosting Eastleigh on Friday before they make the trip to Braintree Town three days later.

The Englishman will be assisted by ex-Stoke, Sunderland and Newcastle midfielder Paul Bracewell, with whom he worked at Spurs' academy.

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Roberto De Zerbi has become Tottenham Hotspur's third manager of a troubled season. He will now aim to keep the club in the Premier League in the remaining weeks of the campaign, with Spurs currently just a point above the drop zone. The former Brighton & Hove Albion boss follows Igor Tudor, who lasted just seven games after replacing Thomas Frank.

Roberto De Zerbi has been appointed as the new Tottenham Hotspur head coach.

The 46-year-old has signed a reported five-year deal with the North London club, with no relegation clause included in the contract.

The Italian told the club's official website: "I am delighted to be joining 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 has been clear - to build a team capable of reaching great achievements, and to do that playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters.

"I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to deliver it.

"Our short-term priority is to climb the Premier League table, which will be the complete focus until the final whistle of the last game of the season.

"I’m looking forward to getting out on the training pitch and working with these players to achieve that."

De Zerbi becomes Tottenham's third manager of the campaign and has been brought in with the aim of steering Spurs away from relegation danger in the Premier League.

Igor Tudor replaced Thomas Frank on an interim basis in February, but his reign only lasted 44 days before his departure following a run of just one draw in his five Premier League games.

Tudor's solitary victory - a 3-2 home success in the second leg of his side's UEFA Champions League last 16 tie with Atletico Madrid - ultimately proved academic after the heavy 5-2 reverse in the first leg.

On the same day that Frank was sacked at Spurs - February 11 - De Zerbi left his position as Marseille manager by mutual consent.

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The former Brighton boss was appointed manager of the Ligue 1 club in the summer of 2024, and guided the French side to a second-placed finish in his first season in charge.

But his reign ended in disappointment after exiting the Champions League following a 3-0 defeat by Club Brugge, while a 5-0 hammering domestically against Paris Saint-Germain left them in fourth position, 12 points adrift of the defending champions.

Tottenham currently sit in 17th place, just one point above the drop zone, with seven fixtures remaining.

Bruno Saltor is expected to stay on Tottenham’s coaching team and collaborate with De Zerbi.

The club's next match is at Sunderland on April 12, which is followed by a home meeting with Brighton on April 18 and then a trip to Wolves on April 25.

Tottenham sporting director Johan Lange said: "Roberto was our number one target for the summer, and we are very pleased to be able to bring him in now.

"He is one of the most creative and forward-thinking coaches in world football, and brings with him a wealth of experience at the highest level, including in the Premier League."

More to follow.

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Former Tottenham Hotspur and England star Jermain Defoe takes first permanent job in management at non-league Woking

Jermain Defoe has been appointed as head coach of non-league side Woking. Defoe, 43, has previously been part of an interim coaching staff in charge of Rangers and worked at the Tottenham Hotspur academy. In his stellar playing career, former England star Defoe scored 305 goals in 763 senior appearances, his most notable time in club football spent with Spurs.

National League side Woking have appointed former Tottenham Hotspur and England star Jermain Defoe as their new head coach.

Defoe has chosen the Surrey club for his first permanent role in management, having previously been part of an interim coaching staff in charge of Scottish giants Rangers in 2021. He has also worked in the Spurs academy.

Craig Ross is currently Woking's interim head coach, following the sacking of Neal Ardley, and will still be in the dugout for Tuesday's meeting with Altrincham.

Defoe will then take over for Woking's home clash with Eastleigh on Good Friday.

The 43-year-old will be assisted by former Fulham and Halifax manager Paul Bracewell, who played in Everton's brilliant title-winning teams of the 1980s.

Woking said they had opted for Defoe "following a detailed recruitment process" and said his "values, leadership style and footballing philosophy best aligned with its long-term vision".

Chairman Todd Johnson said: ”Jermain’s achievements as a player speak for themselves, but what stood out to us during the process was how he sees the game, how he drives standards, and his approach to leadership and player development.

”We have a clear plan for where we want to go as a club, and we believe Jermain is the right person to build on the strong foundations already in place and help take us forward in the next phase of that journey.”

Defoe's 23-year professional career saw him score 305 goals in 763 senior appearances, across spells at West Ham United, Sunderland and Portsmouth, among others.

He netted 20 times for England in 57 appearances, playing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

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His task will be to guide Woking into the Football League for the first time.

The Surrey club have long aimed to recapture their glory days of the 1990s, which included a number of promotions, an unforgettable surprise 4-2 victory at West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup, and three FA Trophy wins at Wembley.

Woking are currently in 11th place in the National League table, with seven games of their campaign remaining.

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Igor Tudor is no longer Tottenham Hotspur manager after a disastrous brief stint in charge of the north London club. Spurs are now on the hunt for their third permanent manager of the season, but who will they go with? There are some huge names in the running, including club legends like Harry Redknapp and Mauricio Pochettino. Whoever takes over will need to hit the ground running.

The Croatian coach may have only been in charge of seven matches, but he oversaw five disastrous defeats, with his sole victory coming as part of a UEFA Champions League two-legged exit.

His reign got off to a poor start as Spurs suffered a morale-crushing 4-1 loss against bitter rivals Arsenal.

Things went from bad to worse for the north London club in March as they were beaten 2-1 by Fulham and 3-1 by Crystal Palace.

Tudor’s side hit a new low on March 10 as they went 4-0 down inside 22 minutes before ultimately being thrashed 5-2 by La Liga giants Atletico Madrid.

A respectable 1-1 draw at Liverpool followed, before the second-leg win over Atletico, albeit in vain.

But then came the straw that broke the camel's back: a 3-0 home defeat to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.

However, the club must struggle on, and they are in desperate need of a manager who can help them secure Premier League survival.

With that in mind, here are the runners and riders in the race to replace Tudor as Spurs boss.

Mauricio Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino watched on ominously from the stands as his former side fell apart in the Spanish capital during the UEFA Champions League clash against Atletico.

The 54-year-old may currently be in charge of the USA national team, but he has been linked with the Spurs job several times this season.

During his last stint in the role, he transformed the club from perennial underachievers to Champions League finalists.

However, Spurs fans could be made to wait for his arrival due to the FIFA World Cup at the end of the season, in which Pochettino is set to manage the co-hosts.

Sean Dyche

If there is one thing Sean Dyche knows, it is how to keep a team in the Premier League.

The former Burnley, Everton and Nottingham Forest boss has earned a reputation for managing a crisis, and that is exactly what Spurs need right now.

However, Dyche’s pragmatic style of play goes against the DNA that most fans have come to expect from the club.

Dyche’s reputation as a long-ball specialist could work against him from his first day in the job.

Roberto De Zerbi

Roberto De Zerbi impressed with Brighton & Hove Albion, and despite failing to usurp Paris Saint-Germain as the top team in French football, he put together a talented side at Marseille.

There was a point when he was one of the most coveted coaches in the world, and his attractive style of play could prove to be popular at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

However, there is a sense that De Zerbi brings an element of chaos with him. Is that really what Spurs need right now?

It would be a big risk, but there could also be an even bigger reward if they decide to go with De Zerbi.

Robbie Keane

Robbie Keane wrote his name into Spurs folklore across two successful playing spells with the club between 2002 and 2011.

He is now trying his hand as a manager, and he has made a good account of himself in charge of Hungarian side Ferencvaros.

Keane’s side are through to the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League, and they are also top of the NB I, the first division of Hungarian football.

He would also be a popular choice among Spurs fans who want a manager who knows the club.

Ryan Mason

Spurs have turned to Ryan Mason to get them out of a sticky situation before, and they could do it again.

Mason took interim charge of the club in both 2021 and 2023 and did not disgrace himself on either occasion, securing seventh place in the 2020/21 season, and eighth in the 2022/23 campaign.

However, he had a tough time in charge of West Bromwich Albion earlier this season, and was sacked after just seven months in the role.

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Harry Redknapp

Harry Redknapp would be another popular choice among Spurs diehards after he helped the club into the Champions League with an iconic line-up of players during the 2009/10 season.

He also has plenty of experience of relegation battles from his time with Queens Park Rangers, Portsmouth and West Ham United.

However, Redknapp retired from management in 2017 and has spent more time at the racetrack than in the dugout in recent years.

It may be a popular choice, but would it be a wise one?

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Tottenham Hotspur have parted company with interim head coach Igor Tudor. Tudor departs with Spurs just one place and one point above the drop zone following a 3-0 home defeat to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest in their last Premier League outing. Tudor replaced Thomas Frank to try and halt Spurs' slide down the table, but has overseen five defeats and a UEFA Champions League exit.

Igor Tudor has parted company with Tottenham Hotspur with immediate effect.

The move follows Spurs' 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest which leaves the club one place and one point above the Premier League relegation zone.

The Croatian coach did not conduct any post-match interviews in the aftermath of the defeat after being told of the death of his father.

Tudor lost five of his seven matches in charge during a 44-day spell, with his only win coming in the second leg of Spurs' UEFA Champions League last-16 defeat to Atletico Madrid.

"We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for head coach Igor Tudor to leave the club with immediate effect," a club statement read.

"Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci have also left their respective roles of goalkeeping coach and physical coach.

"We thank Igor, Tomislav and Riccardo for their efforts during the past six weeks, in which they worked tirelessly. We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time.

"An update on a new head coach will be provided in due course."

Spurs will now search for their third manager of the season following Thomas Frank's dismissal in February.

The north London club were 16th in the Premier League and five points above the relegation zone when Frank departed, and now find themselves 17th, just one point above 18th-place West Ham United with seven games to go.

The focus will now be on appointing Tudor's successor, with two weeks until Spurs return to Premier League action against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on April 12.

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They are on a winless run of 13 matches in the Premier League and have yet to record a win in domestic competition in 2026.

Tudor leaves Spurs with a win percentage of just 14.3%, by some distance the worst record of his managerial career. By comparison, his previous-lowest win percentage was with Greek side PAOK, where he managed 37.8%.

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Tottenham Hotspur are fighting for their Premier League survival and they will head to Villa Park on the first weekend of May with a burning desire for three points. While Villa are still battling on two fronts to secure UEFA Champions League football for next season, Spurs are desperate to avoid playing in the Championship. The critical clash will be shown live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

Tottenham Hotspur will head to Aston Villa in a potentially seismic clash at both ends of the Premier League table - and you can watch all the action unfold live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

The first weekend in May is set to be pivotal in deciding the top-flight status of Spurs for the 2026/27 season, while high-flying Villa are hoping to secure UEFA Champions League football for the following campaign.

With Unai Emery's side still fighting to claim UEFA Europa League glory, all eyes will be on their quarter-final tie against Bologna, also shown live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

Spurs' visit to Villa Park is currently scheduled for Saturday, May 2 with kick-off at 12:30 UK time. But should Villa progress to the semi-finals in Europe, their encounter with Spurs will move to Sunday, May 3 at 19:00 UK time.

Aston Villa will know their Europa League fate by Thursday, April 16 and there is the tantalising possibility of an all-Midlands semi-final, should Nottingham Forest manage to make it past Portuguese giants Porto.

Forest will also be hoping to secure Premier League survival in the final weeks of the season, and Vitor Pereira's side took a huge step in doing so when they defeated Spurs 3-0 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

That was the north London side's fifth defeat in Igor Tudor's first seven games as interim head coach, the Italian's sole win by the end of March coming as part of a 7-5 aggregate defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last 16.

In the reverse fixture, Aston Villa fought back from 1-0 down to claim a 2-1 win in October, courtesy of goals from Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia.

The stadium, the scoreline and the visiting scorers remained unchanged in January, when Villa knocked out Spurs in the Emirates FA Cup third round.

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In fact, Villa have been victorious over Spurs in each of the past four meetings between the teams, with six of their last eight victories ending 2-1.

In addition to what promises to be a crucial clash at Villa Park at the start of May, TNT Sports are also broadcasting four Premier League fixtures in April, including Manchester United's visit to Chelsea on Saturday, April 18.

Which Premier League matches are live on TNT Sports?

The following games will be shown live on TNT Sports and HBO Max in the UK:

DateMatchKick-off (UK time)Sat, Apr 11Arsenal v Bournemouth12:30Sat, Apr 18Brentford v Fulham12:30Sat, Apr 18Chelsea v Manchester United20:00Sat, Apr 25Fulham v Aston Villa12:30Sat, May 2*Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur12:30

*If Aston Villa reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League, their match against Tottenham Hotspur will move to Sunday, May 3 at 19:00 UK time.

For the latest information on which football matches are on TNT Sports in the UK, click here.

Here is the TNT Sports schedule and TV guide.

And for the full Premier League schedule, click here.

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