Igor Tudor departs Tottenham after 44 days in charge

Igor Tudor has left Tottenham Hotspur by mutual consent after just 44 days in charge.

The 47-year-old Croat was named Spurs head coach on February 14, following the dismissal of Thomas Frank, and went on to win only one league point during his short spell that encompassed just seven games in total.

Tomislav Rogic, the goalkeeping coach, and physical coach Riccardo Ragnacci have also departed.

Spurs expect to appoint a new coach in the coming days, in time for the majority of the first team squad’s return to the training centre after the international break. The plan is for Tudor’s successor to have 10 days to prepare for their next fixture, away at Sunderland on April 12.

In the meantime, Tudor’s former assistant Bruno Saltor will lead training for the few players who have remained at Hotspur Way during the three-week hiatus between games.

Sunday’s 3-0 loss to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest — Tudor’s fourth defeat in five league matches — was his final game in charge. It left the side 17th in the league, only one point above the relegation zone.

Immediately after the game, Tudor returned to Croatia following the death of his father, Mario.

Spurs ended a six-game losing streak that began before Tudor was appointed with a draw at Liverpool on March 15, and followed it up with a win against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 last week – the only victory of his tenure.

Tudor’s first win was not enough to keep them in the competition, however, after they lost the first leg 5-2 in Spain.

During that match, the north London side went 4-0 down in the first 22 minutes, as Tudor substituted goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky after only 17 minutes following two errors that led directly to goals.

Asked about whether he should carry on in charge after the knockout loss, Tudor replied: “No comment”.

The loss in Madrid followed defeats to Arsenal, Fulham and Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Tudor was just the second Tottenham head coach in Premier League history to lose each of his first three games in charge after Martin Jol in November 2004.

His departure leaves Spurs looking for a third head coach of the season — just as they had in 2022-23, when Antonio Conte, Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason all had spells in charge.

The Athletic reported earlier this month that Spurs were actively working on options to replace Tudor if they decided a change was required.

As reported by The Athletic on Friday, Spurs are pursuing Roberto De Zerbi, the former Brighton & Hove Albion coach who is out of work after leaving Marseille last month, although the Italian favours returning to football in the summer.

Three Spurs fan groups have urged the club against appointing De Zerbi over his past backing of Mason Greenwood, the former Manchester United forward who played under De Zerbi at Marseille.

Frank was sacked on February 11 following a 2-1 home defeat by Newcastle United and with Spurs then five points clear of the bottom three.

The Dane had been appointed in June, signing a three-year contract to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou.

Under Postecoglou, Spurs won the Europa League last season, securing a place in the Champions League, but finished 17th in the top flight, albeit 13 points above 18th-place Leicester City.

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