ESPN reports that Tottenham have settled on Igor Tudor as interim manager after being rejected by the title-winning manager two weeks ago.
Tottenham announce Tudor as interim appointment
After reaching an agreement on Friday, the Lilywhites confirmed Tudor would be appointed on an interim basis until the end of the season.
The former Juventus defender’s temporary appointment will pave the way for Mauricio Pochettino’s romantic summer return, which supporters are eagerly awaiting.
Tudor trained on Monday and will undergo a baptism of fire next Sunday when Arsenal visit the North London derby.
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Spurs have appointed the Croatian on an interim basis until the end of 2025/26.
Spurs are in 16th place, five points clear of the drop zone, after a disastrous run of just two wins from 17 league games.
The sacking of manager Thomas Frank on Wednesday left the club looking for an immediate solution, with Tudor emerging from a shortlist that reportedly included Marco Rose and Edin Terzic.
The appointment is a big gamble, according to people who have worked with Mr. Tudor.
He arrived without a single day’s experience in the Premier League, either as a player or a manager, but his recent resume looks more like a warning than a recommendation.
None of his last three jobs at Marseille, Lazio and Juventus lasted more than 12 months.
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The former Juventus manager is expected to arrive on an interim basis.
After a nightmare run of eight games without a win, Juventus sacked him in October, but that same spell in Turin showed the qualities Tottenham hope to capitalize on.
Tudor, who took over from manager Thiago Motta in March last year, maintained a good run of form with Juve in fifth place, and with just one loss in 11 games, they finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League. As a result, he signed a two-year contract, but the duration of the contract was only four months.
A similar act of rescue heroism occurred at Lazio, where he replaced Maurizio Sarri, who resigned in March 2024. Roma finished in 9th place with 5 losses from 6 games, but Tudor left after 11 games, winning 5 of 9 games to take 7th place and the Europa League.
This was Tudor’s 12th managerial job in 13 years, and his average length of tenure throughout his nomadic career was just 261 days, 30 days per club.
His only silverware came after lifting Croatia’s domestic cup with Hajduk Split in 2013, and it is clear that he is an appointment that will ‘steady the ship’.
Times reporter Tom Allnutt shared insight on Tudor, claiming that he plays an attacking, front-foot style but is tactically very demanding and specific.
Interestingly, the tactician was not the first choice for the interim position, according to ESPN.
Tottenham were rejected by Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira ‘a few weeks ago’
The broadcasting giants claim Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira rebuffed their advances “two weeks ago” and Spurs ultimately settled on Tudor as an interim solution.
Spurs contacted the Portuguese manager’s agent for permission to begin formal negotiations, but Abel, who had recently extended his contract with Palmeiras until 2027, declined to entertain.
The Brazilian’s team stability and long-term plans are said to be more attractive than saving Tottenham from relegation.
Abel currently earns around £600,000 a month at Palmeiras, a figure that even Europe’s most prestigious clubs would struggle to match.
But the 46-year-old is prioritizing structure and a real long-term vision over simply managing in Europe’s top leagues.
This is Abel Yin’s third refusal in recent months in the Premier League. Nottingham Forest approached him in September before renewing his contract, while Wolves made inquiries after sacking Vitor Pereira earlier this season.
All received identical responses.
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Tottenham then considered a number of alternatives, including Ferencváros manager Robbie Keane, former Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi and former RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose, before finally landing on Tudor as a short-term firefighter.
Abel’s loyalty to Palmeiras continues to frustrate English clubs chasing his exploits, but the Portuguese is undeterred by the lure of the Premier League and is thriving in Brazil’s structured environment, where he has built sustained success since 2020.
The tactician has won multiple Brazilian Serie A titles with the club and seems determined to maintain his status.
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