Igor Tudor’s short-lived spell as Tottenham Hotspur’s interim head coach came to an end on March 23, 2026, after just 44 days and seven matches in charge. The club announced they had “mutually agreed” to part ways with the 47-year-old Croat with immediate effect, along with goalkeeping coach Tomislav Rogic and physical coach Riccardo Ragnacci.
The decision follows a damaging 3-0 home defeat to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest on March 22, 2026, which left Spurs 17th in the Premier League table, just one point above the relegation zone with seven games remaining. Tudor had succeeded the sacked Thomas Frank on February 14, 2026, on a deal until the end of the season, but results failed to improve.
A Difficult Start and Limited Impact
Tudor’s tenure began poorly, with defeats in each of his first four matches. The sequence started with a heavy 4-1 loss to north London rivals Arsenal, followed by defeats against Fulham and Crystal Palace in the league, and a calamitous 5-2 Champions League last-16 first-leg defeat away to Atletico Madrid.
A first point arrived with a late equaliser from Richarlison in a draw at Liverpool, and Spurs produced an honourable performance in the second leg against Atletico, though they could not overcome the three-goal deficit. However, the Nottingham Forest loss proved the final straw, highlighting ongoing defensive frailties and a lack of confidence.
Under Tudor, Spurs collected just one point from seven matches—the fewest of any Premier League side in that period. They have now gone 13 league matches without a win since a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace on December 28, 2025, and their last win in any competition was against Eintracht Frankfurt on January 28, 2026.
Tottenham’s Season-Long Struggles
Tottenham’s campaign has been plagued by inconsistency and misfortune. An extensive injury list has sidelined key players including James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski for long periods, disrupting team cohesion and tactical plans. The club sits perilously close to relegation for the first time since 1977, when they last dropped out of the top flight.
The brief Tudor era reflected deeper issues at the club. His appointment was widely viewed as a left-field gamble amid panic following Frank’s dismissal. Tactical shifts and a failure to connect with the squad contributed to a lack of improvement. The low point came with the decision to start young goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky ahead of first-choice Guglielmo Vicario in the Atletico Madrid first leg, only for Kinsky to be substituted after 17 minutes following two costly errors.
Chief football writer Phil McNulty noted that the episode reflected poorly on the Spurs hierarchy: “Tudor was a left-field gamble that went wrong from the start… The whole episode reflects more badly on those at the top of the club than it does on Tudor.”
Looking Ahead: Next Steps for Spurs
Tottenham will resume their Premier League campaign after the international break with a trip to Sunderland on April 12, 2026. The remaining fixtures include Brighton (home), Wolves (away), Aston Villa (away), Leeds (home), Chelsea (away), and Everton (home). Securing Premier League status remains the immediate priority.
An update on a new head coach is expected in due course. The club must act decisively to stabilise the squad and avoid an unthinkable relegation that would trigger a multi-year rebuild in the Championship.
Tudor’s departure marks the latest chapter in Tottenham’s turbulent season. While his brief tenure failed to deliver results, the underlying challenges—injuries, confidence, and squad balance—predate his arrival and will require careful management moving forward.
For a club with Tottenham’s stature and resources, the current position is unacceptable. The hierarchy must now find a leader capable of restoring stability and ambition as the club fights to preserve its top-flight status.
