Three Defeats, One Pattern: Tudor's Sacking History Haunts Tottenham

The knives are sharpening at Tottenham. Three games into Igor Tudor's interim reign, and the Lilywhites have collected three defeats—a 4-1 hammering by Arsenal, a 2-1 reverse at Fulham, and a 3-1 home loss to Crystal Palace that epitomises their wretched domestic form. With just nine matches remaining and Spurs perched precariously one point above the trapdoor, serious questions are being asked about whether the club might do the unthinkable and sack their caretaker boss.

It's rare for a club to dispense with interim management, yet Tottenham have form here—Cristian Stellini discovered as much back in 2023. Tudor's appointment raised eyebrows from the start, despite widespread calls for Thomas Frank's departure. His previous record suggested caution was warranted, and those early misgivings are proving prescient.

But what does the end of a Tudor regime typically look like? His CV tells a cautionary tale.

Juventus (2025)

When Tudor arrived at Spurs, considerable emphasis was placed on his recent departure from Turin following an eight-game winless streak. The Italian giants had handed him the permanent role after he'd steered them through Champions League qualification, but conviction was always lacking. Come November, an eight-point deduction and a run of defeats—including losses to Como, Lazio, and Real Madrid—sealed his fate. The 1-0 reverse at Lazio proved terminal. Despite controlling possession, Juventus managed only three genuine opportunities against a struggling outfit and paid the price for poor preparation.

Udinese (2019)

The Pozzo family don't hang about when it comes to changing managers. Tudor's second stint at the Friuli club lasted seven months before a 4-0 home demolition by Roma—who played much of it with ten men and less possession—ended it. That wasn't even their lowest point that month; a 7-1 thrashing by Atalanta had preceded it.

Galatasaray (2017)

Tudor inherited a side sitting fourth in the Turkish Super Lig after taking over in February. By December, despite keeping him on, the club had seen enough. A 2-1 defeat away at newly-promoted Yeni Malatyaspor, who hadn't won in five games, proved the final straw. Galatasaray had led 2-0 at the interval but capitulated, managing just three shots on target as they tumbled from top spot—eight points clear at one stage—down to third.

"All my life is pressure," Tudor reflected afterwards. "There are two popular things in Turkey. One is, 'Tudor resign!' and the other is this worthless system. Everyone is happy when my system fails. It is the mentality in Turkey. When the team loses, I am guilty one but when it wins, the success belongs to the footballers. Every coach in the world makes mistakes."

The rot had been setting in earlier: a Europa League qualifying exit to Graham Potter's Ostersunds and dropped points in the Istanbul derbies had all contributed to the mounting strain.

PAOK (2016)

Tudor's first taste of the sack came in Greece. Less than a year into a three-year contract signed the previous summer, PAOK moved decisively in March 2016. A 2-1 defeat at Panthrakikos—conceding late after taking the lead—sealed his fate. The club's statement additionally cited "derogatory comments regarding the team's quality" as contributing factors.

With Spurs just one point from the drop zone and the pressure intensifying, history suggests Tudor's honeymoon period could evaporate quickly if this losing streak continues.