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Igor Tudor's appointment as Tottenham interim head coach until the end of the season has been confirmed with a clear goal before the summer

Tottenham Hotspur sporting director Johan Lange has explained why Igor Tudor has been given the job until the end of the season.

Tudor was announced as Frank's successor on Saturday after the Dane was dismissed on Wednesday. Spurs are currently 16th in the Premier League table and sit five points above the relegation zone.

Thomas Frank arrived from Brentford in the summer after Tottenham sacked Ange Postecoglou, despite the Australian having led them to the Europa League. However, eight months later, a disappointing run of results led Spurs to change their manager once again.

Tudor arrives after leaving Juventus earlier this season and has previously enjoyed spells with Marseille and Galatasaray. In the statement confirming his appointment, Lange explained the decision, listing six demands the Croatian has.

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"Igor brings clarity, intensity and experience of stepping into challenging moments and producing impact," he said, before adding what could be interpreted as a message regarding Frank. "Our objective is straightforward - to stabilise performances, maximise the quality within the squad and compete strongly in the Premier League and Champions League."

Under Frank, his football was often slammed for being too conservative, and when the going got tough, his team failed to take on the challenge. Lange's comments point toward Tudor addressing that in the remainder of the season.

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When discussing the objectives for Tudor, Lange calls for stabilisation of performance and an impact on the playing squad. Despite the injuries Frank suffered during his tenure, Spurs often underachieved despite the players available.

Finally, competing in the Premier League and Champions League were mentioned. Spurs' primary objective in the league is to avoid the relegation zone, and they have dropped ever closer in recent weeks as West Ham United has picked up form.

In the Champions League, Spurs won five of their eight league phase games, including victories over Borussia Dortmund, Villarreal and Eintracht Frankfurt. They will return to the competition next month following the knockout phase play-offs.

Igor Tudor has already been left heavily impressed by one Tottenham star ahead of his first match as interim manager

Igor Tudor will be looking forward to working with Randal Kolo Muani at Tottenham if his past comments at Juventus are anything to go by.

Tudor has been hired as Spurs' interim boss until the end of the season after the departure of Thomas Frank. He has been tasked with saving the club's domestic season, as they sit five points above the relegation zone.

Frank was sacked by the north London side following a poor run of results that has seen them drop to 16th in the Premier League table. As a result, Spurs had the aim of appointing an experienced manager who could make an immediate impact - and Tudor definitely fits that description.

He has had stints at Lazio and Juventus in recent seasons, where he worked with current Tottenham star Muani. Tudor was sacked within the year at Juve after replacing Thiago Motta, but not before he guided them into the Champions League qualification spot in the Serie A table.

Before this, he worked at Lazio. Although he last just 11 games before resigning, he won six, lost two and drew three of those, demonstrating the immediate impact he can have in a short amount of time.

As he began his reign in Italy, Tudor was quick to praise Muani in his opening press conference.

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He said: "We also have Kolo Muani, and their [alongside Dusan Vlahovic] presence is a big advantage for the team."

Muani continued to impress Tudor following Juve's 2-0 win over Monza, where the forward struck in the first half to double his team's advantage.

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Speaking after full-time, he added: "I liked Kolo Muani’s performance a lot, especially from an attitude perspective: he was able to understand the match well, it was a complete performance."

These comments show that Tudor expects big things from his familiar attacking man from now until the campaign's end. Muani is currently on loan to Spurs from Paris-Saint German and has made just six goal contributions in 27 appearances so far.

Fans will hope that Tudor can get the best out of the prolific star and steer Tottenham away from the bottom end of the table during the business end of the season.

The new boss will have some time to settle in with his new squad as FA Cup action takes place across England this weekend. But it'll be a baptism of fire for his first game in charge as he begins his spell in north London with a derby against Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 22.

Tottenham's next permanent manager will have to contend with a difficult dressing room dynamic, something one candidate knows plenty about from his last job

Former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic is reportedly in the mix to take the reins from Igor Tudor at Tottenham.

Tudor, 47, has agreed to temporary charge until the end of the season. The former Galatasaray, Marseille and Juventus head coach bridges the gap while chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange explore a wider selection of candidates for a summer appointment.

Among them is German-Croatian coach Terzic, 43, who rose through the ranks at Dortmund after first working as a scout in the Bundesliga club's academy, reporting directly to then-manager Jurgen Klopp. An interim spell in charge of the first team for the second half of the 2020/21 season saw him win the DFB-Pokal.

And then after his replacement Marco Rose, who's also in the frame for Spurs' dugout vacancy, left by mutual consent at the end of the following campaign, Terzic finally got a permanent shot at the job himself.

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It remains the sole senior full-time position on his CV, albeit one that reads very well on paper. Dortmund came agonisingly close to ending Bayern Munich's decade-long dominance of the league in his first year.

They missed out on the title on goal difference after being held to a 2-2 draw by Mainz on the final day. The following season was far less impressive domestically as they could only manage a fifth-place finish, but they reached the Champions League final before a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid broke Black and Yellow hearts again.

However, behind the scenes, Terzic had been contending with a player revolt. In December 2023, Sky Germany reported that a large section of the squad wanted him gone because of his lack of influence in training.

While they were fond of his character, they felt he was lacking in the tactics department, including a distinct deficiency in pressing. His defensive play style wasn't proving popular, with certain players even going behind his back and stating their case to then-CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke.

According to Bild, club legend Marco Reus was one of the leading figures behind the coup. The pleas fell on deaf ears, with Watzke refusing to wield the axe on Terzic midway through the season.

It was merely a stay of execution, though. As is often the case, player power won out eventually, with Terzic requesting his own exit at the end of the campaign, presumably deeming his position untenable amid such rife untrust.

That could perhaps ring alarm bells for Spurs, who the Telegraph say have added him and Rose to their list of managerial candidates. Roberto De Zerbi, who departed Marseille this week, and fan favourite former boss Mauricio Pochettino, who's committed to leading the United States at their home World Cup this summer, are also in contention, as well as Ferencváros head coach and ex-striker Robbie Keane.

Terzic is said to be keen on a Premier League job, having turned down several positions across Europe in the last 18 months. Time will tell if that interest is mutual.

Igor Tudor will only need to make a couple of changes to the starting lineup when Tottenham Hotspur face Arsenal in the North London Derby later this month. The former Juventus and Lazio boss, who has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Thomas Frank, could even change the formation too in a desperate effort to get off on the right foot.

football.london understands that the Lilywhites are confident they will appoint an experienced interim boss ahead of the players' return from a five-day break on Monday. Spurs want to bring somebody in until the end of the season before selecting a permanent option from a wider pool of candidates in the summer.

As it stands, it remains unclear who exactly Tottenham will bring in, but Tudor looks set to fill the vacancy. The 47-year-old, who's been without a job since October 2025, will have the opportunity to stake his claim for the job.

Tudor may only have a few days on the training pitches at Hotspur Way, but he'll be eager to put his stamp on the team. So, with that being said, football.london has looked at how Tottenham could set up under new management.

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Tudor could trial new formation

Tudor largely deployed a back-three at each of his last four clubs, with a striker and two inside forwards; a 3-4-2-1. Fortunately for the Tottenham squad, it's not an entirely foreign system, having previously set up similarly on a few occasions under Frank.

New Tottenham signing gets debut

Assuming that Tudor chooses to operate a back-three, like he has done fairly recently at Juventus, Lazio, Marseille and Hellas Verona, Souza could be given his first start for the club at left wing-back. Tottenham signed the 19-year-old defender from Santos in January, and he made his debut off the bench in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Guglielmo Vicario will likely remain between the sticks, while Djed Spence mirrors Souza on the opposite flank. The north Londoners are, of course, short on options at centre-half, so Archie Gray, Radu Dragușin, Micky van de Ven could make up the back-three.

Tudor reunites with former Juventus star

Tudor enjoyed a fruitful relationship with Randal Kolo Muani at Juventus. The 27-year-old striker, who was on loan at the Italian giants from Paris Saint-Germain, scored five goals in 11 appearances across all competitions under the Croatian.

Kolo Muani often led the Juventus frontline, flanked by two inside forwards. Under Tudor at Spurs, he could, however, play a support role, with Dominic Solanke unlikely to be omitted from the starting lineup.

With Xavi Simons also unlikely to be dropped, Conor Gallagher will be left fighting Pape Matar Sarr, Yves Bissouma, and Joao Palhinha for a place in the midfield pivot.

Tudor's dream Tottenham XI vs Arsenal: Vicario; Souza, Van de Ven, Gray, Dragusin, Spence; Gallagher, Palhinha; Simons, Kolo Muani; Solanke.

Mauricio Pochettino has been linked with a return to Tottenham Hotspur this summer after the decision to sack Thomas Frank this week

Tottenham Hotspur are set to appoint Igor Tudor as interim head coach until the end of the season - potentially offering a hint that they may look to bring Mauricio Pochettino back this summer.

Spurs are in crisis as they seek a steadying presence to guide them through the season. They may be through to the Champions League last 16, but their worrying Premier League form has set alarm bells ringing in north London.

Tottenham sit 16th in the top-flight table - just five points clear of the bottom three. If finishing 17th last season wasn't a wake-up call - Spurs are being dealt a harsh lesson which could see them sleepwalk into the Championship.

It's why Tudor's arrival will create so much intrigue. The Croatian has a good track record of success in the short-term which should reassure Tottenham that they won't get sucked into a relegation battle.

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But his record after getting the Juventus job on a permanent basis - after impressing in the interim role - suggests his impact is limited beyond a short period of time. That will indicate that unless he leads Spurs to an improbable deep run in the Champions League, such as a final or even victory, he won't be at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium beyond this summer.

Which raises questions about what's next at Spurs? Pochettino will always have a special place in the hearts of fans.

Few, if any, managers in the club's recent history have been as popular as the Argentine. Of course, getting him in before he leads the USA at their home World Cup was always unlikely if not impossible.

However, could there be an agreement in place for after the tournament finishes on July 19? If Spurs come calling, it's hard to see Pochettino turning them down, whatever happens with the USA this summer.

A move back to the club he made his name at would be hugely popular among the club's fanbase. But managers very rarely enjoy success at a club the second time round.

Of course, Pochettino would see it as unfinished business, having never won a trophy at Spurs despite being their most successful manager in terms of league finishes in the 21st century. And yet his stock hasn't risen since he left in November 2019.

If anything, Pochettino's reputation as one of the game's great managers has diminished after underwhelming spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. The 53-year-old has hardly been pulling up trees in his current job with the US national team either.

Tottenham's next decision over who leads them going into the 2026/27 season will be vital. There are already plenty of warning signs that more mistakes are to come at a club which has badly lost its way.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly appointing a good friend of Antonio Conte's as their replacement for Thomas Frank on an interim basis until the end of this season

Tottenham Hotspur are said to be appointing a good friend of Antonio Conte as their interim head coach until the end of this season.

Igor Tudor has reportedly reached an agreement to replace Thomas Frank for the rest of this campaign, three-and-a half months after being sacked by Juventus. The former Croatia international previously played for the Turin-based club alongside Conte from 1998 until the Italian retired in 2004.

Their paths first crossed as coaches in 2019, when Conte's Inter beat Tudor's Udinese. They then met twice during the 2022 Champions League group stages, when they were in charge of Marseille and Tottenham.

Before the first of those fixtures, Conte told SPURSPLAY: "Marseille are a really good team, and they have a really good coach who I know very well… Igor Tudor is a friend, we played together for many years in Juventus.

"We lifted trophies together; at the same time, we also lost trophies together." They won back-to-back Serie A titles in the early 2000s but lost the 2003 Champions League final to Milan after a penalty shootout at Old Trafford.

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Conte continued: "I've known him a long time. He's a really good guy, a strong person, also, as a player, he was really strong.

"The last time I saw him was when he was an assistant coach at Juventus with Andrea Pirlo. He's a good friend; sometimes, we message on the phone.

He added: "I am really happy to see him on the bench at an important club in Europe like Marseille. He did very well last season in Verona (coaching Hellas), and yeah, he's doing a really good job. I wish for him the best, apart from these two games against us!"

Tudor was similarly complimentary of the then-Spurs coach. He said: "Antonio, I know him as a human being, as a person. When I came to Juventus, I was only 20, and I found a dressing room with players like him [Ciro] Ferrara, [Paolo] Montero, [Alessandro] Del Piero, players who have value, not only as a player but as a person.

"He was one of the guys who was always exemplary, not by speaking but by his behaviour. In the end, the best way to look is to behave the right way.

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"Then, after I had him as assistant coach, when I went to play at Siena, he was assistant coach to me there for one year. Then, after I started trying to be a coach, he was at Juventus - the first time he was there - he let me see all the training for one week, and I learned a lot from him. Now he's one of the best in the world.

"Tomorrow, coaches are there, but I think always decided by players. They are the protagonists, and in the end, they are the ones who will decide the game."

Tudor had his Marseille team train in France the day before their Champions League match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, rather than at the away team's stadium, as is customary in UEFA competitions. He explained their decision not to utilise the access they are allowed 24 hours before the match.

The then-Marseille coach said: "We took this decision because we think it's a better option. We could prepare better this morning, as here we don't have much time to prepare for the game.

Tudor then joked: "Because if we prepare the training here, Antonio will see all the training and [managing director of football, Fabio] Paratici from Juventus, they will be there with the camera! So, better prepare this morning in Marseille."

Tottenham Hotspur could reunite one of Europe's most exciting partnerships ahead of the North London Derby

Xavi Simons has previously claimed that he and Marco Rose are a 'top combination'. The former RB Leipzig boss has recently emerged as one of the many potential candidates to fill the vacant head coach position at Tottenham Hotspur.

According to The Telegraph, the Lilywhites have shortlisted Rose and Edin Terzic as potential successors to Thomas Frank, with the interview process now underway. The report claims that the duo are of interest to Spurs, but it remains unclear whether they are viewed as interim or permanent options.

It's said that Roberto De Zerbi, Mauricio Pochettino and Robbie Keane are also thought to be 'prominent' in internal discussions. Despite strong competition, Rose has been named as the new bookies' favourite to take the reins.

The 49-year-old has been without a job since March 2025, when he was sacked by Leipzig. Rose enjoyed a fruitful two-and-a-half-year stint at the Red Bull Arena, winning the DFB-Pokal.

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Simons worked closely with the German at Die Roten Bullen, scoring 18 goals and providing 22 assists in 68 games across all competitions. Together, they won the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, smashing Bayern Munich in a three-goal thriller at the Allianz Arena.

In an interview with the Bundesliga website before they parted ways, Simons showered Rose with praise. The 22-year-old midfielder, whom Tottenham signed from Leipzig for £51mILLION in the summer, said: "Top combination, I would say. No, he's a coach.

"I heard from him before I came here, and, yeah, really honest coach, if things go well and things don't go too well, he would tell you, for sure. He really wants you to improve and, at the end of the day, being successful with the team, that's the most important thing for him."

Rose was just as complimentary of Simons during their time together. Speaking to German outlet Kicker in September 2023, as quoted by Liga Insider, the former Leipzig boss said: "He's almost a prototype for what we want in our style of play.

"Our scouting department recognised this brilliantly and presented him accordingly. He enjoys chasing the ball and winning tackles, radiates tremendous energy both with and without the ball, and is also a gifted footballer."

Rose added: "The lad has a lot to offer, and yet I'm cautious with terms like 'superstar.' We should let him remain as carefree in the new league as he is right now.

"He doesn't give the impression that he needs the hype. Xavi is already showing how well he fits our playing philosophy."

Then, in January 2025, Rose welcomed Simons back from a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a classy message. As quoted by Bulinews after a 4-2 win over Werder Bremen, he said: "We know that Xavi is a difference-maker.

"I said to him right after the game: ‘Great job’. And I don't mean today's game, but the way he came back from his injury. The way he worked after his injury and the way he came back."

Marco Rose wasn't afraid to make his feelings clear about the Premier League, having spent the majority of his career – on and off the pitch – in Germany

Marco Rose has previously admitted that he would be interested in coaching a Premier League club. The 49-year-old has been heavily linked with the vacant head coach position at Tottenham Hotspur following the departure of Thomas Frank.

football.london understands that the Lilywhites are confident they will appoint an experienced interim boss ahead of the players' return from a five-day break on Monday. Spurs want to bring somebody in until the end of the season before selecting a permanent option from a wider pool of candidates in the summer.

As it stands, it remains unclear who exactly Tottenham will bring in, but it's understood that, if successful, the interim will be considered at the end of the season. According to The Telegraph, the north Londoners have shortlisted Rose and Edin Terzic as potential successors to Thomas Frank, with the interview process now underway.

It's said that Roberto De Zerbi, Mauricio Pochettino and Robbie Keane are also thought to be 'prominent' in internal discussions. Despite strong competition, Rose has been named as the new bookies' favourite to take the reins.

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Speaking to The Guardian in February 2021, Rose claimed that he's 'never had a career plan'. He said: "I never sit at home and think: ‘In 10 years I want to be coach of Man United or Liverpool.

"Of course, if I have time to think about it, maybe it’s interesting to be a coach once in the Premier League. But I feel very well now in Germany, in the Bundesliga.

"I've never had a career plan," added Rose. After a brief spell as head coach at Lokomotive Leipzig, the German was picked up by RB Salzburg, where he earned his stripes coaching the under-16s and the under-18s before eventually taking charge of the first team.

He etched his name into the history books, leading the Austrian outfit to the domestic double in 2018/19. Rose's attractive brand of football caught the eye; he went on to enjoy spells at Borussia Monchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.

The German said: "A Marco Rose team? It’s always active in a game, against the ball and with the ball. It tries to win balls in a high position on the pitch. If we have the chance to score quickly, we should use it; if not, we should keep possession, but not so that we start to sleep.

"Moving the ball fast, moving the opponents, winning it back in the shortest possible time if we lose it. Playing clever, playing hard, not just for the gallery. Always convinced about every teammate, and always with the belief that we have a chance to win against anyone."

Rose enjoyed a two-and-a-half-year fruitful period at the Red Bull Arena, winning the DFB-Pokal and the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, before getting sacked in March 2025. He's been without a job since.

Tottenham have made a decision on how they will replace Thomas Frank, after the former Brentford head-coach was sacked this week

Tottenham Hotspur are confident of appointing an experienced interim head coach before Monday, with the chosen candidate to see out the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign, football.london understands.

Club bosses are targeting a coach with a track record of making an instant impact before appointing a permanent manager in the summer. The interim candidate will also have the chance to stake their claim for the job over the coming months.

Thomas Frank, who was only appointed last summer, was relieved of his duties on Wednesday following Spurs' 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United. The result left the club in 16th place, just five points above the Premier League relegation zone with 12 matches remaining.

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At this stage of the season, there is only a remote possibility for Spurs to fight their way back into European qualification contention, whilst the club are also through to this year's Champions League's round of 16.

With Spurs out of the FA Cup, there is no fixture for the first-team this weekend. As such, the club are confident they will have a new interim head-coach in place when players return to training on Monday.

Rivals Manchester United have set an example by appointing Michael Carrick until the end of the current term. He has won four and drawn one of his matches in charge so far, and now Spurs are hoping to follow suit after naming their interim choice.

So far, much of the week's speculation has come down to who will replace the outgoing Frank on a permanent basis, with one name prominent in the discussion.

Mauricio Pochettino has already been linked with a return to the club. The Argentine, 53, is currently in charge of the United States national team for this summer's World Cup, after which he could come back to the club he managed to the Champions League final in 2019.

Meanwhile, former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic and former RB Leipzig head coach Marco Rose are also said to be in the running.

The former has spent 18 months out of work since leaving Dortmund barely two weeks after leading them to the 2024 Champions League final, whilst the latter was dismissed as Leipzig boss less than one year ago.

Another name linked is Roberto De Zerbi. The former Brighton boss departed French club Olympique Marseille earlier in the week and could be on the lookout for his next challenge.

However, the Italian - who lead the Seagulls to the Europa League for the first time in the club's history back in 2023 - is said to be taking a break before accepting a new role after leaving the French club this week.

Then there is Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, who last month announced he will leave Selhurst Park when his contract is up at the end of the season.

The Austrian won the FA Cup and Community Shield with the Eagles last year, therefore attracting much attention as to his next destination.

In fact, Glasner was asked about the now-vacant opportunity at Spurs as his current club took on Burnley in midweek Premier League action. Rather than a verbal response, he shook his head in disappointment at the question.

Tottenham are considering a swoop for German coach Marco Rose, who has had his fair share of managerial controversies

Marco Rose has emerged as the new favourite to take the reins at Tottenham. The 49-year-old German has surged ahead of Roberto De Zerbi, Mauricio Pochettino and John Heitinga in the race for the vacant hotseat following Thomas Frank's dismissal on Wednesday.

Rose, whose managerial resume includes spells at RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach, has developed a reputation as a high-intensity, front-foot coach. His proactive, pressing style has frequently drawn comparisons with former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

But despite their philosophical similarities, Rose and Klopp haven't always seen eye to eye. In fact, tensions between the two boiled over in dramatic fashion last year.

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Soured relationship with Klopp

Some might consider Klopp and Rose something of an administrative dream team, but at RB Leipzig, it was anything but. Just three months into his spell as Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull, Klopp sanctioned Rose's departure, bringing an abrupt end to the latter's three-year tenure at the Bundesliga side.

According to German outlet Bild, Klopp had initially been one of Rose's strongest backers, having signed him as a player during his time in charge of Mainz. However, their relationship reportedly deteriorated following a dismal run of results - just two wins in 11 league games - which saw Leipzig slip out of the Champions League spots and left Klopp "unsatisfied" with Leipzig's "sporting development" under Rose.

A few months later, Klopp admitted that sacking Rose was "a bitter pill to swallow." Speaking to The Athletic, he said: "It's not great. It will never be my hobby. But it's things you have to do. What I want is to hire coaches for the right reasons. And if you finish working together, then it is also for the right reasons and not for the media asking for it."

Fan backlash

Rose's Leipzig exit wasn't the first time he'd left a club acrimoniously. His previous role - a brief stint at Dortmund - lasted just 12 months, with Rose and the board mutually agreeing to part ways at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

On paper, his record was respectable. Dortmund collected more points than in 2020/21 and climbed from third to second in the table. But supporters remained unconvinced, frustrated by what they saw as tactical rigidity.

There was a perceived over-reliance on star striker Erling Haaland. Much of the system was geared towards maximising the Norwegian's strengths, but when he was absent - or off form - Dortmund often appeared toothless in attack. Fans lamented the lack of a viable Plan B, particularly given the attacking depth available in Jude Bellingham, Marco Reus, Thorgan Hazard, Youssoufa Moukoko and Julian Brandt.

Defensive frailties also persisted. Rose struggled to resolve the transition issues that had dogged the side under his predecessor, Lucien Favre, with Dortmund conceding 52 league goals - the highest tally among the top six.

That inconsistency, compounded by disappointing cup campaigns - a Champions League group-stage exit, a Europa League knockout play-off defeat to Rangers, and a shock DFB-Pokal loss to second-tier FC St. Pauli - ultimately tainted Rose's short tenure and made his end-of-season departure feel inevitable.

Betrayal

Rose earned widespread praise during his two-year spell at Borussia Monchengladbach between 2019 and 2021, though it ultimately ended on a sour note. A fourth-place finish in his debut campaign - which included eight weeks at the top of the Bundesliga - set an impressive early tone.

Progress from a Champions League group featuring Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk further enhanced his reputation, as did Gladbach's aggressive, high-tempo style. But midway through his second season, Dortmund made their move, and Rose agreed to take over at the end of the campaign.

Frustrated at losing their head coach to a domestic rival, Gladbach publicly confirmed his impending departure - a decision that proved destabilising. The team lost five of their next six league matches, slid out of the Champions League places, then out of the Europa League spots and were eventually dumped out of the DFB-Pokal by none other than Dortmund.

For Rose, the timing and manner of the announcement felt like a betrayal. The club's handling of the situation had a tangible impact on results, strained his relationship with supporters and left a lasting blemish on an otherwise promising tenure.