Tudor's Exit Leaves Spurs Scrambling: De Zerbi Emerges as Bookies' Pick for Next Manager

The managerial merry-go-round at Tottenham has claimed another victim. Igor Tudor's brief and turbulent spell in charge has ended by mutual consent after just six weeks, a period that only deepened the club's perilous position in the relegation battle.

While Spurs have promised an announcement on their next head coach "in due course," the pressing question isn't necessarily who takes the reins immediately, but rather who'll be standing in the technical area when next season begins. It could be the same individual, though given the current chaos, that seems increasingly unlikely.

There's also the rather sizeable elephant in the room: nobody actually knows which division Tottenham will be playing in next term. Several names circulating in the betting markets might think twice about regular trips to Preston's corner of Lancashire.

The Outsiders

A sprawling group of managers currently share ninth place in the odds, including Oliver Glasner, John Heitinga, Andoni Iraola, Chris Hughton, Marco Rose, and Scott Parker. It's a bewildering collection by any measure, and things only get stranger further down the list. Harry Redknapp, Ryan Mason, Michael Carrick, and Diego Simeone are all considered equally fancied, which tells you something about the uncertainty surrounding the whole affair.

Filipe Luis represents the "why not?" candidate—a former Chelsea player stepping into management at a club with a habit of recycling Blues alumni. It'll probably go nowhere, though he's more likely to end up back at Stamford Bridge anyway.

Sean Dyche sits at 6-1, and there's something perfectly Spurs about the fact that their potential next manager isn't even among the genuine frontrunners. That's where Marco Silva sits as well, a manager who'll eventually leave Fulham, and when he does, everyone involved will wish he hadn't.

The Contenders

Robbie Keane occupies 4-1 territory, and he's presumably the favourite should Tottenham actually suffer the indignity of Championship football. Stephen Carr was enthusiastic about Keane's credentials, though his reasoning—citing Keith Andrews' opportunity at Brentford—rather glossed over the fact that Andrews was already employed there.

Adi Hutter also sits at 4-1, and there's genuine uncertainty about whether English football and its media establishment is prepared for a manager with that particular first name. We might be about to find out.

The Main Candidates

Thiago Motta, fresh from his Juventus exit, has emerged as the significant mover in betting markets since Tudor's departure. Whether recruiting another former Juve boss represents the smartest thinking remains debatable.

Mauricio Pochettino stands at 2-1, and there's an almost fatalistic sense that this reunion feels inevitable. The romance is genuine—but only if Spurs stay up, surely even this love story has its limits.

The Favourite

Roberto De Zerbi has become the odds-on pick at most bookmakers. He ranks among the finest available coaches in Europe, and there's undeniably something of the Spurs about him—particularly his reputation for being absolutely unhinged. Reports suggest preliminary talks have already occurred, and the betting shift suggests someone's made a significant gamble on his appointment.