Roberto De Zerbi appointed as new Tottenham boss despite fan backlash

Roberto De Zerbi has been named as the new Tottenham boss on a five-year contract, tasked with saving them from an unthinkable Premier League relegation despite a number of supporters’ groups having urged Spurs not to appoint him. Tottenham parted ways with Igor Tudor “by mutual consent” on Sunday after a disastrous seven-game spell that lasted just 44 days and left the north London club in dire straits, only one point and one place above West Ham in the Premier League relegation zone and in real danger of dropping out of the top flight since 1977. Roberto De Zerbi will be the new Tottenham manager (Getty Images) They are winless in their last 13 Premier League games, their longest run without a top-flight success in 91 years and endured an embarrassing 5-2 capitulation against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash before a futile second-leg success served as their only win under Tudor, who was a left-field appointment when he replaced Thomas Frank in February.

But the club has opted for ex-Brighton and Marseille coach De Zerbi , who left the Ligue 1 side in February. It was initially thought that the 46-year-old was only happy to join Spurs at the end of the season, once he knew their league status, but has had a change of heart and will become head coach immediately to try and steer them away from the drop. He has signed a long-term deal, with no relegation clause .

A Tottenham statement said: “We are pleased to announce the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as our new men’s head coach on a long-term contract, subject to work permit. ” In a statement accompanying Tottenham’s announcement, De Zerbi insisted he is committed to the club’s “ambition for the future”. The Italian lasted less than two seasons in his previous two spells at Brighton and Marseille, and he has been immediately thrown into a relegation battle.

“I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world,” said De Zerbi. “In all my discussions with the club’s leadership, their ambition for the future has been clear – to build a team capable of reaching great achievements, and to do that playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters. I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to deliver it.