Who Are the Top 3 Candidates to Replace Igor Tudor as Tottenham Manager?

Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy has finally pulled the trigger on the dismissal of head coach Igor Tudor following increasing pressure from fans to orchestrate a quick turnaround this season. The UEFA Europa League holders now sit only one point above the relegation zone and Spurs have decided to make a change with only seven games remaining in this perilous campaign. Over his seven games in charge, the Croatian just managed one win and a draw, while losing five games.

Tudor, who was brought in on an interim basis following the sacking of former head coach Thomas Frank, has struggled to get a tune out of a demoralised and depleted Tottenham squad. The first team has missed key players for several games this season; however, the performances further amplified and the calls for Igor Tudor replacement gained more momentum with each matchweek.

Top 3 Contenders To Replace Igor Tudor As Tottenham Manager

Following Tudor's exit, the senior executives are going to be looking at bringing in a manager who can steady the ship in the remaining games of the English Premier League season. A club that desperately needs to turn their results around immediately will be looking for a manager who can orchestrate a quick turnaround of fortunes and who has experience of managing in the EPL.

The following three managers will be high on the club's shortlist for taking the first team coaching role. The list contains names that are familiar either to the club or the English footballing league system, and how teams play the game.

Ryan Mason

Ryan Mason holds a unique advantage of having recently worked with some of the current players in the Tottenham squad. The former Spurs assistant manager is capable of rejuvenating the squad's morale. A familiar face who can put the proverbial arm around the shoulder of the struggling Tottenham players seems like the need of the hour at White Hart Lane.

The 34-year-old has plenty of experience working in the EPL and also served as an assistant under multiple Tottenham head coaches, like Ange Postecoglou and one of the best managers, Antonio Conte, in the past.

Mason is expected to have a lasting impact as the Spurs remain desperate to move farther away from the relegation zone this season. He has also worked with the youth setup at the club and could effectively integrate those players into the starting XI in case injuries continue to persist within the squad.

Robbie Keane

The former Tottenham attacker, who is currently the head coach of Ferencvaros in the Hungarian top division, could be a great interim option for the job. As a player, Keane has a great history with the club, and his appointment will be welcomed by fans as it would mark the return of one of the club's legends.

As a head coach, Keane has already won silverware in the form of the 2023-24 Israeli Premier League and the 2024-25 Nemzeti Bajnoksag I titles. Winning on the field matters and Keane has delivered the goods on the pitch, though outside England.

The 45-year-old Irishman has experience in understanding the current iteration of one of the best leagues in the world, the EPL, as an assistant coach at Leeds United in the recent past. So, the adaptation period should not be an issue for Keane, and with the club having a history of giving former players like Tim Sherwood and Ryan Mason opportunities, he could be the guy to save their season.

Roberto De Zerbi

One of the biggest free agent names available in the coaching space, De Zerbi can also be a potential solution for the club if they are planning to survive and look beyond this season. A manager with a proven track record for success at clubs like Olympique Marseille and Brighton in the past, De Zerbi has the pedigree to demand the respect of the dressing room.

While the 46-year-old lacks trophy winning pedigree, he has shown a tendency to extract more out of lesser players over the years. Players like Xavi Simons and Randall Kolo Muani would only benefit if they manage to bring De Zerbi through the doors.

The potential acquisition of Roberto De Zerbi could signal the club's desire to maintain a long-term vision in the scenario that they believe he will be roped in and can produce instant results.