Tottenham, a top English club threatened by relegation from the Premier League, hired Roberto De Zerbi as its manager on Tuesday despite opposition to the appointment from fans鈥� groups because of the Italian鈥檚 past support of a player who was charged with including attempted rape.
De Zerbi replaced Igor Tudor, who was on Sunday after 44 days of an interim coaching spell that worsened Tottenham鈥檚 plight in the Premier League.
Spurs, the reigning Europa League champions and ever-presents in England鈥檚 top division since 1978, are one point above the relegation zone with seven games left.
De Zerbi previously worked in the Premier League as Brighton鈥檚 manager and was , which he left in February after a disagreement with the French club鈥檚 leadership.
While at Marseille, De Zerbi coached former Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood, who was charged in October 2022 with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behavior, and assault after images and videos were posted online.
British prosecutors in February 2023 owing to a 鈥渃ombination of the withdrawal of key witnesses鈥� and due to 鈥渘o realistic prospect of conviction.鈥�
During their time together at Marseille, De Zerbi described Greenwood as a 鈥済ood guy鈥� who 鈥減aid dearly for what happened,鈥� adding: 鈥淚 regret what happened in his life because I know someone different from what鈥檚 being described, especially in England.鈥�
Women of the Lane, a Tottenham-affiliated women鈥檚 supporters鈥� group, has questioned De Zerbi鈥檚 鈥渏udgment and leadership鈥� because of the way he 鈥減ublicly defended Mason Greenwood in a way that downplays the seriousness of male violence against women and girls鈥� and said it was 鈥渘ot an appointment Tottenham Hotspur should make.鈥�
Proud Lilywhites, Tottenham鈥檚 LGBTQI supporter group, also has objected to De Zerbi鈥檚 arrival, saying the decision to appoint a coach 鈥渋sn鈥檛 just about results or style of football. It鈥檚 about values, identity, and the kind of people we choose to represent us.鈥�
鈥淲hen someone in that position publicly defends a player like Mason Greenwood, and frames it in a way that downplays the seriousness of what happened, it matters, not just in isolation but in what it signals,鈥� the group said.
Spurs Reach, the club鈥檚 official race, ethnicity and cultural heritage fans鈥� group, said De Zerbi鈥檚 鈥減ublic remarks defending and contextualizing鈥� Greenwood 鈥渞isks normalizing harmful attitudes, diminishing the experiences of survivors and sending a deeply concerning message about what is tolerated within the game.鈥�
The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust voiced its opposition hours after the appointment was made, saying it 鈥渞aises serious and far-reaching concerns鈥� because De Zerbi鈥檚 comments about Greenwood 鈥渨ere unnecessary, ill-judged, and deeply offensive to a significant number of supporters and, without doubt, will have left victims of male violence alarmed.鈥�
鈥淚f those remarks reflect his genuine views, they cast a troubling shadow over the values of the club we love,鈥� said the trust, which called on De Zerbi to show 鈥渧isible and sustained support for women鈥檚 charities and organizations working to combat violence against women.鈥�
Tottenham is in big trouble
De Zerbi, who has signed what Tottenham said was a 鈥渓ong-term contract,” is a coach known for playing an attacking, high-risk, complex style of soccer, making it something of a bold appointment by club whose top-flight status on the line.
He is a well-respected tactician 鈥� doing admirably at Sassuolo in Italy and then at Ukrainian team Shakhtar Donetsk, which he left in 2022 following Russia鈥檚 invasion 鈥� but is known to have a combustible edge to him.
鈥淥ur short-term priority is to climb the Premier League table, which will be the complete focus until the final whistle of the last game of the season,鈥� De Zerbi said in a statement by Tottenham.
Tottenham didn鈥檛 specify but British media reported his contract is for five years and does not include a relegation clause.
鈥淩oberto was our No. 1 target for the summer,鈥� Spurs sporting director Johan Lange said, 鈥渁nd we are very pleased to be able to bring him in now.鈥�
De Zerbi takes over a club that is one of the biggest in England and reached the Champions League鈥檚 round of 16 this season, losing over two legs to Atletico Madrid.
However, Tottenham鈥檚 Premier League form has been woeful over the last two seasons. In the 2024-25 campaign, Spurs finished in 17th place 鈥� one above the relegation zone 鈥� though that was partially due to focusing on the Europa League as they surged to the title.
This season, Tottenham hasn鈥檛 won a league game in 2026 and is coming off a 3-0 home loss to relegation rival Nottingham Forest before the international break. Its next game is at Sunderland on April 12.
Thomas Frank started the season as Tottenham鈥檚 manager before getting on Feb. 11. His replacement, Tudor, lasted just seven matches 鈥� losing five of them 鈥� before losing his job on Sunday to end his month and a half in charge.
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