Tottenham Hotspur appoints Igor Tudor as head coach until the end of the season, gearing up for a tough north London derby against Arsenal. The Croatian manager steps in amid a crisis, with Spurs hovering near the relegation zone.
Tudor’s Mid-Season Expertise
Tudor brings no prior experience in English football but excels at mid-season rescues. His recent roles at Juventus and Lazio highlight his ability to transform teams quickly.
Italian Specialist’s Analysis
Daniele Fisichella, an expert on Italian football who observed Tudor’s tenures at Juventus and Lazio, offers a positive outlook. “It’s a great chance for him,” Fisichella states. “It’s a chance to go to the best league in the world, midway through the season, to a team that needs an identity and needs a proverbial kick on the backside, which I’m sure he’s going to give them.”
Fisichella describes Tudor as direct and honest. “He’s very honest, open, sometimes perhaps even too much if you like. He always speaks his mind. He might come across as a little bit brash, but I don’t think he will sit on the fence.”
At Juventus last season, Tudor took over in March and delivered results in nine games, losing just once and securing Champions League qualification. At Lazio, he shifted a possession-focused side to a proactive, pressing unit in few matches.
Challenges and Expectations
Tudor’s Juventus stint ended in October after an eight-match winless run, though Fisichella points to tough fixtures and lack of a playmaker as factors. “There have been some issues with him as well, but I think maybe in the end he was given a bad hand,” he notes. “He wanted Juventus to buy a playmaker in the summer and they didn’t.”
Success at Tottenham remains open-ended, with Champions League progression a key goal. Fisichella adds, “If the aim is to win the Champions League, well, I think Tudor might struggle with that. Although potentially there could be a tie with Galatasaray or Juventus in the last 16, so maybe it is not impossible for them to progress.”
