A Leap Into the Unknown: Why Igor Tudor’s Appointment Is Tottenham’s Biggest Risk

Tottenham’s decision to entrust Igor Tudor with the final 12 matches of the season may prove the defining call of executive director Vinai Venkatesham and technical director Johan Lange. If the Croatian succeeds, he will be remembered as the savior who preserved Spurs’ place in the Premier League. If he fails, he could become the man who sends the club into the Championship for the first time since 1977.

The danger is very real. Tottenham have won only two of their last 17 matches and sit just five points above the relegation zone.

The situation worsened after another major injury blow — Wilson Odobert suffered a cruciate ligament tear and is ruled out for the rest of the season. Club leadership had delayed the dismissal of Thomas Frank for weeks, trying to avoid impulsive decisions, but defeat to Newcastle and the looming North London derby against Arsenal forced their hand. An early FA Cup exit gave the team an 11-day preparation window, which the new hierarchy used to search for a manager.

Spurs’ shortlist included Robbie Keane, Edin Terzić and Marco Rose, but the German coaches were unavailable due to contractual obligations or preference to start in the summer. Ultimately, the choice fell on Tudor, who had been unemployed since his dismissal from Juventus in October. Interestingly, his candidacy had been promoted earlier by Fabio Paratici shortly before his move to Fiorentina, having worked with the coach in Turin.

Appointing a foreign manager with no experience in English football as a relegation firefighter is a leap into the unknown for the London club. Historically, Tottenham relied on internal solutions during crises — Ryan Mason, Chris Hughton or David Pleat. An external appointment in the middle of a survival battle is unprecedented and underlines both desperation and the absence of room for error, as The Athletic’s Jack Pitt-Brooke noted.

Tudor has bravely stepped onto a sinking ship, and now not only the club’s fate but also the reputation of the new leadership depends on his success. A season that began with hopes of European qualification has turned into a nightmare, and the Croatian is the last hope of keeping control. If he fails, the consequences for Tottenham could be catastrophic.

Published by Patrick Jane
16.02.2026