The managerial landscape at Tottenham Hotspur has reached a point of intense speculation, and the latest developments in France have only added fuel to the fire. While the club’s current manager, Thomas Frank, continues to fight for his future in North London, the man widely reported to be the top choice to succeed him is facing a crisis of his own.
Roberto De Zerbi, the tactical mastermind currently at Marseille, is reportedly on the verge of being sacked by the French giants. According to respected journalist Fabrice Hawkins, De Zerbi is in serious danger of losing his job following Marseille’s disappointing elimination from the Champions League. It appears that high-level discussions are already underway to finalize a decision regarding his tenure.
This news is particularly significant for Tottenham fans because De Zerbi has been identified by the ENIC Group as the primary candidate to take over at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium if Thomas Frank is relieved of his duties.
Frank has been walking a tightrope for several weeks now, with his position often described as precarious. While he managed to secure a vital victory over Eintracht Frankfurt recently a result that likely bought him some much-needed breathing room the contrast between his team’s European exploits and their domestic struggles is becoming impossible to ignore.
Tottenham’s current form is a tale of two different competitions. In the Champions League, they have been a force to be reckoned with, taking down two Bundesliga sides and comfortably qualifying for the knockout rounds.
However, in the Premier League, the story is much bleaker. Spurs have failed to win any of their last five league matches, leaving them languishing in the bottom half of the table.
For a club with Champions League ambitions, being closer to the relegation zone than the top four is a disaster. It seems that success in Europe is the only thing keeping Frank in a job right now, but even that might not be enough if the domestic results don’t turn around immediately.
If Tottenham does decide to pull the trigger on a managerial change, the timing of De Zerbi’s potential exit from Marseille could be perfect. The Italian manager has long been admired for his revolutionary approach to the game.
During his time in the Premier League with Brighton and his more recent stint in France, he has consistently implemented a style of play that is both aesthetically pleasing and tactically innovative.
He is known for his ability to coach players into maintaining possession in tight spaces and inviting pressure to create gaps in the opposition’s defense. This is exactly the kind of “exciting” football that Tottenham fans have been craving, especially as many have complained that Frank’s current system feels rigid and uninspired.
However, Tottenham isn’t the only club keeping a close eye on De Zerbi. Manchester United is also rumored to be interested in the 46-year-old as they look for a permanent successor to take over in the summer once Michael Carrick’s interim period concludes.
This adds an extra layer of urgency for the Spurs hierarchy. If they believe De Zerbi is the right man to lead their project, they may have to move quickly to secure his services before another European heavyweight swoops in.
Despite the rumors, Thomas Frank remains in the dugout for now. He has proven to be a resilient character throughout his career, and his ability to get results in the Champions League shows that he hasn’t lost the dressing room entirely.
The challenge for him is to translate that European composure into Premier League points. If he can guide the team back up the table and maintain their momentum in the knockout rounds, he might still be able to save his job. But with a candidate like De Zerbi potentially becoming a free agent, the pressure on every matchday is only going to increase.
Ultimately, the situation at Tottenham is a waiting game. The club finds itself at a crossroads where they must decide between sticking with the man who navigated them through a difficult Champions League group or moving toward a new, more expansive tactical identity.
De Zerbi represents an upgrade in terms of pure entertainment value and tactical modernism, but bringing in a new manager mid-season always carries a risk of instability. For now, all eyes are on both London and Marseille. One result in the Premier League or one meeting in a French boardroom could set off a chain reaction that reshapes the future of Tottenham Hotspur for years to come.
