Tottenham’s Stopgap Stumbles: Interim Coach Exits After Just One Point

Provisional head coach Igor Tudor has exited Tottenham by joint accord, having secured merely one point from five Premier League contests during the former Juventus manager’s short spell at the demotion-threatened team.

The ex-Croatia international Tudor assumed control on a provisional basis from Thomas Frank when the Dane was dismissed after eight months at the helm on February 14. However, the Europa League title-holders took action following a 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest last Sunday, which left them a single point above third-from-bottom West Ham with seven league fixtures remaining.

A declaration from the organization stated: “We can verify that it has been collectively agreed for Head Coach Igor Tudor to leave the Club with instant effect.

“Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci have also relinquished their respective positions as Goalkeeping Coach and Physical Coach. We extend our gratitude to Igor, Tomislav, and Riccardo for their endeavors over the past six weeks, throughout which they toiled relentlessly.

“We also acknowledge the personal loss that Igor has recently endured and convey our empathy to him and his relatives during this challenging period. Further information on a new Head Coach will be furnished promptly.”

What led to Tottenham’s dismissal of Igor Tudor?

The crushing defeat by Forest, which had been the sole team situated between Spurs and West Ham, represented Tudor’s fifth loss in seven competitive games.

The 47-year-old avoided defeat for the initial time in Tottenham’s preceding engagements with a last-minute 1-1 league stalemate at Liverpool and a 3-2 home victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last 16. Nevertheless, they exited the competition 7-5 on aggregate, courtesy of a 5-2 first-leg hammering.

During the Forest game, former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson remarked that the draw at Anfield had been an “unsatisfactory outcome” because “a single point was insufficient and it merely preserved [Tudor] in his role.”

“Strategically, in every single match, he’s organized the team differently with diverse personnel,” Robinson communicated to BBC Radio 5 Live, characterizing Spurs as being in a “truly dire situation.”

“Players are glancing towards the dugout wondering ‘what is my position?’ They reach the attacking third and there’s an absence of quality, no movement.

“There is no harmony, no ingenuity, and they simply appear devoid of ideas. They are in severe jeopardy.

“Observing the stadium, it’s a melancholic sight, truly. There are more vacant blue seats than occupied ones.”

Speaking to TNT Sports after a 3-1 home loss to struggling Crystal Palace on March 5, Tudor declared he “had even greater conviction than before” that Tottenham could reverse their poor form.

However, former England midfielder Joe Cole informed the broadcaster that the position could have gone to “someone with a measure of expertise” in the Premier League instead of Tudor, such as ex-Spurs favorites Glenn Hoddle or Harry Redknapp.

“This was absolutely destined for an individual like Robbie Keane; someone who has ventured out and demonstrated their capabilities, a club icon,” Cole added.

Here are Tottenham’s outcomes under Tudor.

Igor Tudor’s track record and professional journey

A defender or defensive midfielder, Tudor commenced his playing profession at Hajduk Split before joining Juve as a player in 1998.

He claimed Serie A twice and Serie B once with the club and reached the 2002/03 Champions League final, returning to Hajduk for the conclusive season of his playing days in 2007/08.

Named the Croatian Footballer of the Year in 2001, Tudor earned 55 international appearances for Croatia and contributed to their third-place finish at the 1998 World Cup.

He initiated his managerial career with Hajduk in 2012, securing the Croatian Cup the subsequent year. Tudor became Juve manager in March 2025 but was relieved of his duties on October 27 after an eight-game streak without a win across all competitions.

Why was Thomas Frank dismissed by Tottenham?

Frank successfully established his former club Brentford as a robust Premier League squad and joined Spurs from the Bees last June following the termination of Ange Postecoglou, who had guided Tottenham to Europa League success a month prior.

At the time of Frank’s costly removal, Tottenham had failed to secure a victory in any of their preceding eight Premier League encounters and were experiencing a run of 12 points from 17 matches.

As some teams towards the lower end of the standings began to improve, Spurs made their decision with the club situated five points above the relegation zone.

The Dane had expressed certainty that he would retain his position following a 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle, only to depart the next day with a record of 13 wins from 38 games in charge across all competitions.

What lies ahead for Tottenham? Will Spurs avoid relegation?

Spurs remain the sole Premier League team yet to triumph in the top division in 2026, and the international intermission means they will not compete again until they visit 11th-placed Sunderland on April 12.

After the defeat to Forest, they were considered fourth-favorites for demotion by bookmakers, trailing Wolves, Burnley, and West Ham.

At that juncture, statistical experts Opta assigned Tottenham a 27.1% likelihood of relegation and projected they would maintain their top-flight status at West Ham’s expense, finishing a point or two ahead of the Hammers.

Here are Tottenham’s subsequent five fixtures.