Spurs in talks to upgrade Igor Tudor this summer

Tottenham Hotspur have verbally agreed to appoint Igor Tudor on an interim basis until the end of the season.

The former Lazio and Juventus manager will go down in history as one of the most disastrous figures in modern memory, having replaced Thomas Frank during his brief stint in the spotlight at Tottenham.

Tudor, 47, a former Croatian international, will naturally be in contention for a full-time spot at the end of the season, depending on his performance in the preceding months.

Spurs are in the hotspot of turmoil, so what is actually acceptable for ENIC Group, with the north London club embroiled in a relegation battle in the Premier League, whether they like it or not?

Spurs business plan

The fact that Tottenham waited until the end of the season before deciding on Frank’s permanent successor is understandable. The managerial job market is expected to explode in the second half of this year.

But bringing in a Tudor manager who has no experience of playing England either as a player or a coach is bold, to say the least. Some might call that brazen.

Journalist Matt Lowe described him as “too loud and overly emotional”, and perhaps that’s what the Lilywhites need to get out of the rut they’ve found themselves in.

However, looking at the bigger picture, Tottenham are currently interested in signing former manager Mauricio Pochettino, who is preparing to lead the United States national team for the upcoming North American World Cup.

In fact, Spurs have left the door open for Pock to return at the end of the season, with the South American tactician revealing in a 2024 interview that he “would like to come back someday”, according to the Telegraph.

This has since been confirmed by the one and only Fabrizio Romano, whose words regarding transfer events are often gospel. Roberto De Zerbi is another candidate, but there is no doubt that Spurs would welcome the former Argentine manager back if the opportunity arises.

Why Spurs should reappoint Pochettino

When Frank’s Tottenham lost to Newcastle on Tuesday night, chants of Pochettino’s name echoed throughout the stadium. Considering all the cards, the 53-year-old is the more romantic option for the N17 side, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Although the jury didn’t side with Tudor, it’s understandable for fans to be concerned. However, Pocci has already proven himself in the spotlight and is not yet in the later stages of his managerial career.

Pochettino knows how to shape a Spurs team, creating one of the most balanced teams in the country, deadly in attack and steely in defence. He hailed his “special” relationship with the north London club when he was in charge of Chelsea, but has now confirmed he really wants to return to Chelsea.

So many forwards, from Dele Alli to Heung-min Son to Christian Eriksen to Harry Kane, have gone from strength to strength after wingers who once played for PSG, but that’s the tactical quality needed for a withering crop currently battling relegation.

Frank’s system had many flaws, the main one being the Spurs’ inability to create any meaningful patterns in attack. Tudor is a proponent of front-footed football, but in his playing days he played as a centre-back and plays within principled tactical parameters.

Clearly, the Spurs can’t get any worse. Frank’s tenure was truly disastrous, and although the Dane is a talented manager, his expertise at Brentford did not translate into success at Spurs.

Pochettino knows the club and knows that playing for Tottenham means playing with courage. Tudor may keep Spurs out of danger zone in the coming months, but his track record speaks volumes about his status as a project manager, which is what the Londoners need.

He is a skilled manager but perhaps feels he has unfinished business after coming so close to winning the Champions League.