Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Igor Tudor as interim manager following the sacking of Thomas Frank, with the club mired in a relegation battle after a fifth consecutive Premier League defeat. The 2-1 loss to West Ham on Saturday leaves Spurs just two points above the drop zone, with West Ham’s revival under Graham Potter closing the gap.
Tudor, 46, previously worked with former Spurs sporting director Fabio Paratici at Juventus and has a reputation as a specialist firefighter in Italian football. His first task is to arrest a slide that has seen Tottenham win only two of their last 17 league games. The club have 12 players out injured, and fans have grown increasingly restless with the team’s performances.
“I am confident we can turn this around,” Tudor said in his first press conference. “The quality is there, but we need to find belief and consistency. Every match from now on is a cup final.” Spurs face Arsenal next Sunday in a North London derby that could prove pivotal to their survival hopes.
The decision to sack Frank came after a run of five straight losses, including a 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool. Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and technical director Johan Lange led the search for a replacement, ultimately opting for Tudor on a deal until the end of the season. The club have also signed Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid and Brazilian left-back Souza in January.
With 11 games remaining, Tottenham are on 27 points, and the traditional 40-point survival mark looks increasingly necessary. Nottingham Forest’s upturn under Vítor Pereira has added to the pressure, while West Ham’s resurgence means the relegation picture is more congested than last season. Tudor acknowledges the challenge but insists the squad has the character to respond.
