Roberto De Zerbi: Spurs appoint Italian as third head coach of the season on five-year contract

Tottenham have appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their third head coach of the season.

De Zerbi has agreed terms over a five-year contract with Spurs, currently one point above the Premier League's bottom three, which does not include a relegation release clause.

Spurs are fighting to avoid a first top-flight relegation since 1977 in the final seven games of the season.

De Zerbi's appointment "raises serious and far-reaching concerns", says the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust, because of his backing of Mason Greenwood when he was Marseille head coach.

Sky Sports News understands the Spurs board carefully considered and discussed the sentiments around De Zerbi's association with Greenwood during the hiring process and their new head coach is expected to address the issue.

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De Zerbi has more than a week to prepare for his first game, a trip to Sunderland on April 12, live on Sky Sports, and says climbing the table is Spurs' "short-term priority".

The pressure is on to get this appointment right after Igor Tudor's disastrous 44-day spell in which he failed to win a Premier League game. Spurs have moved on three head coaches in the past year.

De Zerbi, who was previously reluctant to take a job before the summer after leaving Marseille, says he was convinced to join Spurs on a "long-term contract" after discussions with the club's leadership.

"Their ambition for the future has been clear - to build a team capable of reaching great achievements, and to do that playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters," De Zerbi told the Spurs website.

"I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to deliver it."

Sporting director Johan Lange said Spurs are pleased De Zerbi, their first choice to take over in the summer, has agreed to take on the mantle of keeping them in the Premier League.

"He is one of the most creative and forward-thinking coaches in world football, and brings with him a wealth of experience at the highest level, including in the Premier League," Lange added.

How De Zerbi plans to keep Spurs up

Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol:

Roberto De Zerbi is up for the challenge. Spurs have seven games to avoid their first relegation since 1977, and he feels it is a massive responsibility to ensure their ever-present Premier League status is preserved.

Sitting just a point above the drop zone, everybody at Tottenham recognises the perilous position they are in.

De Zerbi has made it clear that the sole goal right now is to channel resources into making sure the club stays up. Everything else - building for the long term and restoring Tottenham to the top end of the Premier League - will come later.

The Italian is not buying into the talk that a rebuild and wholesale changes are needed. He is well aware of the strengths of the current squad and believes it needs consistency, a firm goal and a clear path to get out of danger.

Much has been made of De Zerbi's expansive approach, which his former Brighton captain Lewis Dunk said "baffled" the players when he arrived at the club in September 2022.

But it is understood that with Spurs' current predicament, he will not overcomplicate it for the players, instead simplifying the game and tactics in order to maximise returns in the short term.

The 46-year-old believes so many changes before him at Spurs have affected the players, and now it is about fighting for a common cause.

There have also been question marks over his combustibility, considering his exits at Brighton and Marseille after he fell out with the hierarchies.

For De Zerbi, it is a sign of his passion for the job - he makes huge demands of himself, his players, sporting directors and senior executives. He believes challenging each other is the best way to improve and to get the best from everyone.

De Zerbi's appointment has faced concerns from several Spurs fan groups after he backed Mason Greenwood when he was Marseille boss.

It is understood that he expects questions about this when he is presented to the media for the first time.

But ultimately, De Zerbi wants a strong relationship with fans, as he has done at all previous clubs, to help prevent Spurs from dropping into the Championship.

'De Zerbi will be best money Spurs spend if he keeps them up'

Sky Sports' Paul Merson:

I was quite bullish about Tottenham staying up and then after the Nottingham Forest game [Spurs losing 3-0 at home], you're like, 'Wow. They're in real trouble'.

It just shows you what a big club Tottenham is. I know they're struggling at the moment, but to get someone like De Zerbi, who's a top, top manager. To get him to come to the club just tells you everything about how big Tottenham is. So they've got a chance now.

I don't care how much money he gets. Whatever he gets, if he keeps them up, it's the best money they've ever, ever, ever spent.

He wanted to come in at the start of next season, he's going to come in now. So they have to throw the kitchen sink at him. They have to. They can't afford to go down.

Can De Zerbi deliver required instant results?

Tottenham, who currently sit one point above the relegation zone, are in need of a head coach who can deliver instant results with just seven games left to secure their survival.

De Zerbi has established himself as a coach who instils a possession-based philosophy, creating teams that are praised for their attractive style of football.

However, the Italian's start at Brighton when he took over mid-season in 2022 following Graham Potter's departure would suggest he might struggle to have the required impact.

De Zerbi failed to win any of his first five Premier League games in charge of Brighton, drawing twice and losing three games, albeit facing a tough schedule.

When taking over at Serie A newcomers Benevento mid-season in 2017, De Zerbi's side were praised for the football they played, but were relegated from Italy's top flight.

De Zerbi failed to win any of his first nine games in charge of Benevento.

The Italian also struggled when taking over Palermo mid-season in 2016, winning just one of his 13 games before being sacked less than three months into the job.

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