Roberto De Zerbi can give Tottenham fans the kind of football they crave. “Whatever you dare to do, do it” is a perfect expression of the Italian philosophy. But that means nothing if he can’t save Spurs from relegation. This is the final roll of the dice. De Zerbi or bust?
With seven games remaining, Spurs are one point ahead of the table. Igor Tudor was touted as a firefighter, but only fueled the flames of their first relegation from the top flight since 1977. Negotiations between the two sides are progressing well and the prospect of De Zerbi taking over is exciting, but is he the right manager at the wrong time?
The former Brighton manager at least brings Premier League experience and hopes for a bright future. If he can keep the Spurs, it could be a turning point. I can’t think of any alternatives. It’s hard to imagine De Zerbi staying in the Championship.
Will De Zerbi produce immediate results?
The Spurs have no margin for error, but rely on a coach who accepts risks. De Zerbi’s energetic, possession-based style is non-negotiable, and his past experience suggests it is an approach that will take time. Clearly, Spurs can’t afford that.
The Italian has found himself in a far more restless situation than the one he took over at Brighton in 2022 when he took over from Graham Potter mid-season, but it has still taken him a while to pick up points on the south coast, failing to win his first five games.
Other mid-season appointments in Italy both started with even worse results.
In 2016, he was sacked less than three months after taking over at Palermo after winning just one game in 13 games, and in the 2017/18 season, he defeated Serie A newcomers Benevento after failing to win their first nine games.
Spurs cannot afford to repeat the same scenario. De Zerbi’s best return in the seven games he took over mid-season was eight points, a figure Opta’s supercomputer predicts will be enough to sustain him.
If Spurs do so, De Zerbi has the potential to move them back up the table. He led Brighton to a highest finish of 6th place in the Premier League, qualifying for Europe for the first time in the club’s history.
Is De Zerbi a long-term option?
Spurs have offered De Zerbi a five-year contract, a clear sign that they see him as a long-term head coach, but his track record suggests otherwise.
De Zerbi’s longest spell as a manager was three years at Italian club Sassuolo, where he managed 120 games.
He has never played more than 90 games as head coach at another club, and half of his eight managerial stints have been under 30 games.
The Spurs manager doesn’t tend to stay unfit for too long. De Zerbi will be appointed as manager for the third time this season, with Mauricio Pochettino being the last to stay for more than two seasons.
Will De Zerbi’s reputation matter?
For better or worse, De Zerbi’s reputation precedes him. An innovator in the way the game is played, his name was most often mentioned a few summers ago in interviews for Sky Sports’ project on the future of football tactics.
Director after director cited De Zerbi as an inspiration. “He’s creating something that’s probably unique in football right now,” said one. “He’s probably Pep Guardiola’s biggest headache,” added another.
why? “Distance, position, body shape, and the intentions each player has.” These ideas still feel progressive. “How you control the rhythm and move through space is going to be a big key in the future.” His teams tend to take the lead.
While Marseille are a club with a proud history and huge support, there are reasons why De Zerbi was not given a bigger job after leaving Brighton. While his predecessor handed him the keys to Chelsea, something was holding back the European giants.
While the brand of football has not always proven to bring top trophies, De Zerbi’s character, his ability to manage ups and downs, was a more important factor. Will he fit in? No matter what he does at Marseille, those concerns won’t go away.
As early as November of the first season, there were intermittent threats to quit, accusing the players of humiliating him with their performances. By April, there were reports that he was refusing to practice with the team to complain about players above him.
Players were scrapped in August, with Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Lowe both being transferred. Marseille is a difficult club for anyone to manage, but De Zerbi, 46, was often thought to have inflamed the situation rather than calming it down.
Will Spurs fans be concerned about this? not much.
They desperately need someone who can give the club momentum. Of course it’s in their hands. Still, they are vulnerable.
If West Ham try to escape in any way, it could be too much for them.
If so, a summer of condemnation awaits. There will be supporters who chose De Zerbi last summer, and others who will bemoan the fact that they had to endure seven games under Tudor before turning to him now.
This last die roll must work.
