Let’s not pretend the late swerve for Roberto De Zerbi is any sort of triumph for Tottenham’s incredible powers of persuasion.
Yes, they have convinced the Italian to take charge now when he was reluctant. He had made it clear he would prefer to start his next job in pre-season, a time when it is invariably more sensible to start than with the fuse lit on a season in meltdown.
Something has changed his mind. And if it isn’t simply the result of a month recharging his batteries or an attractive salary set to propel him into the bracket of top earning coaches in world football, it will probably have something to do with the recruitment demands and the power at his disposal with the situation as it is.
From the Spurs angle, though, the appointment represents a seismic U-turn for a head coach they have chosen to overlook at various points during the last 12 months.
They opted for Thomas Frank last summer ahead of De Zerbi, who was then at Marseille but no less approachable than the Brentford boss.
They then stuck with Frank when Fabio Paratici, the Italian sporting director who left Spurs for Fiorentina at the start of February, lobbied internally for a change of head coach before Christmas, and was apparently confident of prising De Zerbi out of the French club.
Tottenham’s decision to hire Roberto De Zerbi is a seismic U-turn on a manager they have had multiple chances to hire in the last 12 months
Then they overlooked him again when appointing Igor Tudor in February although by this time De Zerbi had parted with Marseille and was already talking about the need to take a break.
Most pertinently, when Tudor arrived to replace Frank, there were sources at Spurs making it clear they were not interested in De Zerbi in the slightest, and for two reasons.
Firstly, they were put off by his notoriety as an incendiary character as laid bare by the visit of his Brighton team to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium three years ago.
It was an occasion when De Zerbi’s finger jabbing and jibes sparked a row with interim Spurs boss Cristian Stellini which ended in an unseemly touchline skirmish involving both benches and red cards for the two Italian coaches.
Secondly, and more recently, there were people at Spurs very uncomfortable with De Zerbi’s part in helping Mason Greenwood to restore his reputation at Marseille after the striker left Manchester United in disgrace despite charges of attempted rape and assault being dropped.
When they were together in France, De Zerbi described Greenwood as ‘a good guy’ who ‘paid a heavy price’.
Last week, three Spurs fan groups – Proud Lilywhites, Women of the Lane and Spurs Reach – registered their opposition to the idea the Italian might soon be bringing those views to their club, claiming his comments had raised ‘serious questions about judgment and leadership’.
If Spurs have abandoned their morals while slamming on the handbrake and screeching off in a different direction it is a decision, no doubt, fuelled by sheer desperation.
There were people at Spurs very uncomfortable with De Zerbi’s part in helping Mason Greenwood to restore his reputation at Marseille
‘Those are my principles and if you don’t like them, well, I have others,’ as Groucho Marx said.
Needs-must. The ignominy of relegation beckons. They will slide into the Premier League’s bottom three if West Ham beat Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday week, two days before they play again at Sunderland.
What are a few principles compared to the millions that will be lost if they end up in the Championship? Really, who cares about the moral high ground just so long as it’s not the relegation swamp?
So, De Zerbi it is. Another hire carrying the fingerprints of Paratici, who appears no less influential at Spurs today than he did before his exit on February 5, nor during his 30-month worldwide ban for his part in financial irregularities during his time at Juventus.
His lingering influence will invite further scrutiny upon the leadership team of chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange, who have fired and hired two head coaches in less than two months since Paratici left London and failed to come up with a candidate they might call their own.
None of this bodes particularly well for the future of Spurs under the regime installed since chairman Daniel Levy was ousted in September.
Lange’s position looks particularly vulnerable as Spurs step up their search for a successor to Paratici.
De Zerbi’s incendiary character was laid bare when he had a row with Spurs’ caretaker boss Cristian Stellini on the touchline in 2023
Lange, a Dane closely aligned with Frank, is a sporting director with his eyes most closely trained on data and emerging talent while Paratici, who had the same title during his latest spell at Spurs, was prized for his network of contacts and a knack for closing a deal.
There will be changes as the club restructure and reinforce their executive tier in the months ahead.
In the short term, however, De Zerbi certainly will boost their chances of survival. And when push comes to shove that is what the bulk of supporters care most about.
He is a strong leader, who takes no nonsense from his players.
Unlike Frank, the style of football he likes to play is unashamedly expansive and aggressive. Unlike Tudor, he should be tuned in to the demands of the Premier League.
He spent the best part of two seasons at Brighton, replacing Graham Potter and finishing sixth, and leading the club’s inaugural European campaign before leaving in May 2024 amid tensions over recruitment.
De Zerbi’s Brighton were quick, fearless and exciting to watch. Seldom boring, which should appeal in N17.
Although Brighton, like Brentford, are one of those modern clubs so well run that it is often difficult to figure out exactly what part of the success is down to the head coach and how much down to the data and algorithms of Tony Bloom and Matthew Benham driving recruitment and performance.
Serious questions must now be asked over the decision-making of executives Johan Lange (left) and Vinai Venkatesham (right)
De Zerbi though has enough on his CV to support his ability. Success in Italy and Ukraine, and a good year at Marseille, finishing last season as runners-up, 19 points behind European champions Paris Saint-Germain.
So, leave your morals at the door as Spurs shift from the plan for another Tudoresque interim towards a long-term appointment.
The dream return for Mauricio Pochettino, who remains committed to the United States until after this summer’s World Cup, will have to be shelved yet again.
At least the Spurs crowd will have someone to sing for if they find it all goes awry once again under De Zerbi.
