Tudor on the Brink as Spurs Face Relegation Battle; Keane Circles as Potential Saviour

The pressure is mounting on Igor Tudor at Tottenham, with the former Juventus manager's position increasingly precarious as Spurs battle relegation in the Premier League.

Tudor was brought in to replace Thomas Frank and rescue the struggling giants from the bottom half of the table. The 47-year-old's mission was clear: guide the club to safety. Instead, he's endured a baptism of fire, losing all three of his opening matches—against Arsenal, Fulham, and Crystal Palace—without offering much encouragement that improvement is imminent.

The situation has become dire. Following West Ham's 1-0 victory over Fulham on Wednesday, Spurs now sit precariously just one point clear of the relegation zone with nine games remaining in the 2025/26 campaign. That's the kind of margin that gets managers sacked.

Insiders suggest Tudor's days could be numbered. According to Football Insider, the Croatian is "close" to receiving his marching orders, though the club may yet grant him a brief reprieve. The coming fixtures—against Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, and Nottingham Forest—are being viewed as make-or-break encounters that could determine his future.

"As long as they're not getting results, pressure and scrutiny is going to build on Igor Tudor," Pete O'Rourke explained. The analyst noted that Spurs brought Tudor in as a "firefighter" to extinguish their troubles, but the early signs suggest the fire is spreading rather than being contained.

The Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid offers temporary respite from the relegation dogfight, but the league fixtures either side—particularly the trip to Anfield and the crucial clash with Nottingham Forest in late March—could prove decisive for both Tudor's future and Spurs' survival hopes.

Club legend Robbie Keane has emerged as the leading candidate to take over should Tudor's position become untenable. Reports indicate Keane is eager to step in, with Mauricio Pochettino and Marco Silva also being considered for the role beyond the summer.

For now, Tudor has a chance to prove his worth. But with the noose tightening and only nine matches to pull clear of danger, time is very much against him.