Tudor’s unsuccessful six-week tenure puts Spurs at greater risk of relegation.

Igor Tudor will be remembered at Tottenham Hotspur as the individual who attempted to extinguish flames with gasoline instead of water. That is, if he is remembered at all.

Spurs and Tudor parted ways on Sunday, just 43 days after he took over from Thomas Frank as manager with the potential to secure the position permanently. His task was straightforward, as stated in a club announcement at the time: “To enhance performances, achieve results, and elevate Spurs in the Premier League standings.”

The outcome was a complete failure. Depending on future developments, Tudor’s brief tenure may have hastened Tottenham’s descent toward the looming threat of relegation, or it could simply be noted as a minor detail in one of the most challenging seasons in the club’s 143-year existence.

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However, he did not ignite the fire. Since the start of the previous season, Spurs have suffered a staggering 46 losses across all competitions. They secured the UEFA Europa League title under Ange Postecoglou, but a decline began domestically during the latter half of last year that has proven to be more entrenched than anticipated. There is widespread frustration and indifference among a fanbase that perceives their club as fractured, adrift due to a lack of guidance from ownership.

Sources have informed ESPN that Spurs are working to persuade Roberto De Zerbi to become their next head coach. Reports indicate that the Italian expressed openness to the role during initial discussions, but only if it occurs at the end of the season and provided Tottenham remains a Premier League team.

Spurs are now striving to convince him to join immediately because, for the third time this season, they require someone to step in and rectify a dire situation. Here is the account of how conditions deteriorated during Tudor’s brief leadership.

Disastrous beginning

In a rare media interview on February 20, sporting director Johan Lange elaborated on why Tudor was appointed.

“We interviewed several candidates,” he stated. “Igor made a significant impression during the interview. Naturally, we also obtained references for Igor. He arrives with extensive experience at the highest levels of football.”

“He has demonstrated the ability to join clubs around this time — February, March — and also at major clubs, making an immediate impact on performance. That was certainly a key factor.”

There is evidence to support this. At Udinese (twice), Hellas Verona, Lazio, and Juventus, Tudor has improved the points-per-game ratio of all those teams when joining midseason.

“There is a substantial difference if you are a coach, for instance, who has only started a new role on July 1,” Lange continued. “You have six or seven weeks to prepare and familiarize yourself with the club.”

“I’m not suggesting that is necessarily easy, but it presents a different challenge. If you arrive here on a Monday and are playing that weekend, you must quickly establish relationships with the players.”

Sources revealed to ESPN that Tudor promptly focused on increasing training intensity, believing the players needed to enhance their fitness. They ran … a lot. He also spoke confidently in public about being “100% convinced” Spurs would avoid relegation, even implying that discussing relegation was almost unnecessary. (Tudor departs with the club in 17th place, just one point above the relegation zone with seven matches remaining.)

His inaugural match was a challenging one: facing Premier League leaders Arsenal at home. However, the visit from their north London rivals, who are pursuing their first title in 22 years, was expected to rally the fanbase behind a managerial appointment that did not initially inspire excitement.

Yet what ensued was a disaster. Spurs managed to reach halftime at 1-1, but that was more due to Arsenal’s lack of focus. The Gunners sharpened their performance in the second half and emerged with a 4-1 victory, after which Tudor spoke candidly about the fundamental issues he had quickly identified.

“What is the objective of this club? What is the aim of this team? What is the goal of this coach, these players, this staff?” he questioned. “To become serious. Serious, not merely a group of 20 players, and the remedy is to look in the mirror. Each of us must look in the mirror and genuinely attempt to change our habits.”

Tudor was even more forthright after a 2-1 loss at Fulham a week later, asserting they “lacked everything” on the field. Sources have indicated to ESPN that there was some surprise internally at Tudor’s readiness to speak so critically about a group of players already low on confidence.

This may explain why his response to a third consecutive defeat — at home to Crystal Palace on March 5 — was markedly different, claiming he had “more belief than ever” in the squad. Yet results did not improve.

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Kinsky’s ordeal

First-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario had not experienced the best season — he had faced jeers from some Tottenham fans at the conclusion of Frank’s tenure. Nevertheless, Tudor’s choice to replace the Italian with Antonín Kinsky for the trip to Atlético Madrid surprised many.

However, what transpired next was even worse. Kinsky made mistakes leading to two early goals and was substituted just 17 minutes into the club’s UEFA Champions League round-of-16 match. Tudor did not offer consolation to Kinsky as he left the field, while Conor Gallagher, João Palhinha, and Dominic Solanke followed him down the tunnel.

The 22-year-old faced humiliation — it marked the earliest a goalkeeper had ever been substituted in a Champions League knockout match. Sources have informed ESPN that several players were taken aback by Tudor’s approach, while others in the squad felt a strict stance was necessary to make the group aware of their predicament.

Consequently, Tudor also continued to implement tactical adjustments — alternating between a back three and a back four, even deploying a natural full-back in Pedro Porro as a right-sided center-back against Palace — in search of a successful strategy.

Publicly, he spoke of players needing to be “on the boat,” but privately, sources indicate that Tudor quickly developed doubts regarding the character of several members of the first-team squad.

Spurs suffered a 5-2 defeat in Madrid, and external calls for Tudor’s dismissal soon intensified.

The false hope and the bitter conclusion

ESPN reported the morning after the Atlético defeat that Tudor would be given the opportunity to lead the team against Liverpool. They have won only twice at Anfield during the Premier League era, and many feared another heavy defeat, but Spurs displayed resilience to secure a 1-1 draw thanks to Richarlison’s late goal.

Despite having 13 players sidelined due to injury, Tottenham earned the point they achieved at Liverpool, even though their Premier League winless streak extended to three months. Nevertheless, the sense of momentum persisted four days later as they triumphed over Atlético Madrid 3-2 at home. This victory was insufficient to prevent their exit from the Champions League — they lost 7-5 on aggregate — but their first win in any competition for eight weeks seemed to set the stage for the crucial visit of relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.

Spurs did everything to energize the crowd, offering drink promotions for fans arriving early and encouraging supporters to line the streets to welcome the team bus, while a pre-match message from captain Cristian Romero shared across social media served as a rallying cry.

As a result, the atmosphere before kick-off was electric. Spurs began well but failed to capitalize, and once Igor Jesus put Forest ahead just before halftime, Spurs ultimately lost 3-0.

Sources have informed ESPN that Frank believed the group did not respond effectively to setbacks, and some of his behind-the-scenes efforts were aimed at addressing this issue. It was just one of many challenges Tudor faced, along with a squad ravaged by injuries, a fractured relationship between the club and its supporters, and a general sense of an organization as directionless as it was when Frank was dismissed less than two months prior.

Tudor was informed of the passing of his father, Mario, following the Forest match and was subsequently placed on compassionate leave last week before both parties mutually agreed to part ways on Sunday. With the managerial position now officially vacant, the search for a new head coach is underway.

Significant questions remain for Lange and CEO Vinai Venkatesham regarding the rationale behind Tudor’s hiring. With De Zerbi now in their sights, they must ensure this appointment is successful; otherwise, Tottenham’s situation will worsen.