Igor Tudor has a realistic chance of stopping Tottenham Hotspur from being relegated from the Premier League in the 2025-26 season, though it’s far from guaranteed, given the current dire situation.
As of late February 2026, Spurs are in 16th place in the Premier League table with 29 points from 26 games, sitting just 4 points above the relegation zone (with teams like Nottingham Forest on 27 points, West Ham involved in the scrap, and others below).
They’ve been in abysmal form: winless in their last 9 league matches, no Premier League wins in 2026 so far, and they suffered a heavy 4-1 home defeat to Arsenal in the North London derby under Tudor’s early watch. Media outlets describe it as a genuine relegation battle, with some calling it a potential “shock of the century” or the biggest since Manchester United’s drop decades ago, and bookmakers have Spurs as one of the favourites for the drop.
Tudor was appointed interim head coach on February 13/14, 2026, after Thomas Frank’s sacking, on a contract until the end of the season (June 2026).
He’s essentially a “relegation firefighter”:
His track record shows mid-season turnarounds, like rescuing Lazio in 2024 to secure a top-half finish and Europa League qualification. He’s known for instilling clarity, intensity, organisation, and defensive structure, qualities Spurs desperately need after a collapse in form, poor home results, and tactical issues.
Sporting director Johan Lange has praised him highly, saying Tudor impressed in interviews and could stay “for a long time” if he delivers results and attacking improvements.
Former players like Gus Poyet (who knows Tudor) acknowledge the threat is real but highlight Tudor’s potential to address the team’s main problems (described as “weak” displays).
With roughly 12 games left (11-12 depending on exact fixtures), Spurs need perhaps 12-15 more points for safety in a typical season—achievable if Tudor imposes his style quickly, organises the defence, and gets wins against fellow strugglers while grinding out draws against bigger sides.
However, challenges remain:
The squad has talent but is depleted by injuries/suspensions at times, morale is low after repeated managerial changes (this is another interim after Ange Postecoglou’s era ended badly), and the form table has them at the bottom recently.
Some projections (e.g., one outlet’s model) suggest only 3 projected wins + 4 draws in remaining games, which might not be enough. Relegation would be financially catastrophic for Spurs (massive revenue drop, potential fire sales of stars, etc.).
In short:
Tudor is exactly the type of pragmatic, no-nonsense manager clubs turn to in survival fights, and his history suggests he can steady the ship. If he gets a quick bounce (better organisation, fewer goals conceded, some gritty results), yes—he can absolutely keep them up. But with the margin so thin and form so poor, it’s a high-stakes gamble, and the threat remains very real right now.
