Spurs Turn Up Heat on De Zerbi as Tudor Era Ends; Hutter Rules Out Switch

Tottenham have set their sights on persuading Roberto De Zerbi to abandon his sabbatical and assume the permanent head coach position immediately, following Igor Tudor's departure on Sunday.

The club confirmed Tudor's exit by mutual consent after what can charitably be described as a torrid stint in charge at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A 3-0 home humbling by relegation-battling Nottingham Forest before the international break proved to be the final straw.

Tudor's tenure was nothing short of a disaster. He managed just one draw—admittedly at Anfield against Liverpool—and a 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid to show for his efforts after losing his opening four matches. The Forest capitulation wiped out any remaining goodwill.

In their official statement, Tottenham confirmed: "We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for Head Coach Igor Tudor to leave the Club with immediate effect. Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci have also left their respective roles of Goalkeeping Coach and Physical Coach."

The club added: "We thank Igor, Tomislav and Riccardo for their efforts during the past six weeks, in which they worked tirelessly. We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time."

According to reports, Spurs are now actively attempting to lure De Zerbi away from his current break following his sacking at Marseille earlier this season. The former Brighton boss has been reluctant about jumping back into management mid-campaign, but Tottenham are determined to change his mind. The possibility remains live, though De Zerbi's hesitation suggests it remains far from a done deal.

The club is also considering Glenn Hoddle, the ex-Southampton and Wolves manager who hasn't taken a managerial post in two decades, as part of their wider search for candidates.

Adi Hutter, the Austrian tactician most recently in charge at Monaco, has removed himself from contention. Speaking to Sky Sports Austria, Hutter stated: "In recent days and weeks, I have been increasingly linked with various clubs. However, as I already stated immediately after my time at Monaco, I would prefer not to work as a head coach again until the start of the new season at the earliest. My position on this matter has not changed since then."

Meanwhile, one report suggested as many as seven potential interim replacements are under consideration, including the intriguing prospect of captain Ben Davies stepping into a player-manager role.