Former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi left French club Marseille by mutual consent in February 2026. The Italian coach parted ways with the Ligue 1 side after a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Meanwhile Tottenham Hotspur struggled in the Premier League. The club sat in 17th place and fought to avoid relegation. Interim head coach Igor Tudor left the position by mutual consent on March 29 after a short and winless spell.
Tottenham identified De Zerbi as a primary target. Reports indicated that the club held private talks with him earlier in March. Journalists from The Telegraph revealed these discussions.
Additionally, De Zerbi expressed openness to the permanent Tottenham job. However, he set one clear condition. The coach wanted assurance that Tottenham remained in the Premier League next season. Fabrizio Romano reported that De Zerbi favored the project only if Spurs avoided the drop.
Furthermore, De Zerbi attracted interest from other major clubs. Sources linked him potentially to Manchester United or Liverpool positions in the future. Yet he focused on the Spurs opportunity for now.
Tottenham continued its managerial search. The club planned for the summer appointment. Success in the remaining Premier League matches determined the next steps for both parties.
