Roberto De Zerbi to become Tottenham Hotspur manager as surprising contract length revealed: report

Tottenham Hotspur are poised to appoint Roberto De Zerbi as their new manager after tabling a five-year contract offer, according to reports in Italy. The 46-year-old Italian, currently out of work, is expected to accept the proposal and take charge for the final seven matches of a season that has left the club hovering one point above the Premier League relegation zone.

The approach was made during the March international break, days after Spurs’ 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest and the weekend departure of interim boss Igor Tudor, who collected only one point from five games. Thomas Frank’s appointment last summer also failed to steady the ship, leaving the north-London outfit in urgent need of a rescue act.

De Zerbi’s last post was at Olympique de Marseille, where he steered the club to second place in Ligue 1 and Champions League qualification last season. His tenure ended abruptly midway through the 2025/26 campaign after a reported rift with players and a group-stage exit from Europe’s premier competition.

Sean Dyche had been considered for the role, but Spurs’ hierarchy have now pinned their hopes on De Zerbi’s attacking philosophy to secure survival. The five-year deal on offer is regarded as a bold gamble, both for its length and the financial commitment required at a time when relegation remains a genuine threat.

Tottenham’s remaining fixtures are daunting: trips to Sunderland, Wolves, Aston Villa and Chelsea, plus home games against Brighton, Leeds United and Everton. With safety still in the balance, the incoming coach will have little time to implement his trademark high-tempo style.

Gianluca Di Marzio reports that De Zerbi is giving serious consideration to the offer and a decision is imminent. If he signs, Spurs will be banking on his offensive principles reigniting a side that has scored too little and conceded too much this term, even as critics warn that an expansive approach could expose a fragile defence.

For a club staring at the possibility of Championship football next season, the appointment of a coach known for enterprising rather than survival football is a statement of ambition—and, perhaps, of desperation.