This is one to get the fan base at each other’s throats. Tottenham Hotspur has reached a verbal agreement with Igor Tudor to become the interim head coach.
As we reported earlier, Spurs were looking closely at Igor Tudor. His coaching style during his time at Olympique de Marseille was characterised by an aggressive, high-intensity, and forward-looking approach that emphasised courage, physical commitment, and entertainment value for fans.
🚨 Tottenham Hotspur reach verbal agreement with Igor Tudor to become interim head coach. 47yo Croatian set to join #THFC on contract to end of season; no permanent option. Arrives with big-club experience. Process led by Venkatesham & Lange @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/mhne30c4jU
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) February 13, 2026
This is a vote of no confidence in Thomas Frank’s Dutch assistant, John Heitinga, but also comes with a fair degree of concern. Tudor was most recently the manager of Juventus, where he was appointed in March 2025 (initially as caretaker, then permanently) but was sacked in late October 2025 following a poor start to the 2025-26 season, including an eight-match winless run.
The club was said to be prioritising someone who can make an immediate impact, and no permanent decision is expected now to avoid rushing into a long-term choice. This mirrors the approaches at other clubs in similar situations.
Key takeaways
- The 47-year-old Croatian coach has been out of work since leaving Juventus in October 2025.
- The deal is short-term: until June 2026, with no option for a permanent role built in.
- It’s an interim appointment to provide stability for the remainder of the campaign.
- The process was driven by sporting director Vinai Venkatesham and technical director Johan Lange.
- Tudor has informed the club he’s ready to accept, and negotiations are at an advanced stage (or already verbally agreed in some reports).
- The club plans to seek a permanent manager in the summer, with names like Roberto De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino linked as longer-term options.
