| Full Name: | Roberto De Zerbi |
| Age: | 46 |
| Date Of Birth: | 6 June 1979 |
| Height: | 5 ft 9 |
| Place Of Birth: | Brescia, Italy |
| Nationality: | Italian |
Tottenham Hotspur confirmed the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as their new head coach on 31st March 2026.
The former Brighton and Marseille manager put pen to paper on a five-year contract, replaying Igor Tudor in charge of the Lilywhites.
“I have a big responsibility, it’s a big challenge and I’m looking forward to start and to work with the players and to win some games,” said De Zerbi in his first interview in charge.
“I watched a lot of games, especially in the last period. I know very well the players. I love football, so I watch many, many games per week. I know everything. I know it’s a tough moment for Tottenham, I know very well it’s a tough moment. It’s a difficult moment for everyone at Tottenham
“I think we have the right qualities to come out from this moment. I believe in the players. I think we have to remember who we are and who the players are, because we have very big players and we have to work on their confidence and the qualities of them. They have to show what they are and what they are used to playing.”
De Zerbi was appointed with just seven games left in the season, and headed into his first game in charge with the club sitting in the relegation zone.
Roberto De Zerbi’s coaching career
Roberto De Zerbi began his coaching with Darfo Boario and then Foggia, before being given his first head coaching role by Serie A side Palermo in 2016.
Things didn’t go to plan for De Zerbi at Palermo however, as after three months he was sacked by the club following a dire run of results.
The Italian manager would remain out of work until October the following year when newly promoted Benevento appointed De Zerbi. Although he’d last longer in charge of the Gli Stregoni, and despite impressing with free-flowing attacking football, the club did suffer relegation back to Serie B.
De Zerbi’s stock would rise significantly during his next managerial post. During his three seasons in charge of Sassuolo, the manager made the small club one of the most exciting overachievers in Serie A. The club finished 8th on two occasions during De Zerbi’s tenure – their joint second best finishes ever.
After resigning from his post in May 2021, he was then appointed as the new head coach Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk. Due to the Ukrainian war, De Zerbi’s time at the club wouldn’t last too long, but by the time he left in July 2022 the manager had guided the club to the top of the Ukrainian Premier League.
The Italian’s first foray into English football would come in September 2022 when he replaced Chelsea-bound Graham Potter at Brighton and Hove Albion. De Zerbi proved to be an instant hit at the club, guiding to a seventh-place finish and their first ever qualification for European competition.
Despite progression to the last 16 in the UEFA Europa League, De Zerbi’s second season in charge would prove to be tricky. Brighton would finish 11th after struggling with injuries and lack of mid-season signings – a finish that would lead De Zerbi to mutually agree to leave the club in May 2024.
The Italian manager would then take his talents to Ligue 1 and Marseille, putting pen to paper on a three-year deal. Much like his time at Brighton, the first season would go well – a second-place finish – before a blip in the second season – including being knocked out of the Champions League by Club Brugge – saw De Zerbi lose his job.
Roberto De Zerbi playing career
Unlike Igor Tudor, his predecessor at Tottenham, Roberto De Zerbi didn’t enjoy a playing career at the very top of the game.
Despite being on the books at AC Milan between 1998 and 2001, De Zerbi failed to make a single appearance for the Serie A giants, being sent out on loan to Monza, Padova, Como, Avellino and Lecco during this period.
De Zerbi was finally sold by Milan outright to Foggia in 2002 in the fourth tier of Italian football, where he’d play 56 games and score 18 goals.
The attacking midfielder would then spend time at Arezzo and Catania before being sold to promotion chasing Napoli in 2006.
Further loan spells at Brescia and Avellino would follow before a loan spell to Club Cluj would result in permanent transfer. During his time in Romania, De Zerbi picked up the only significant silverware of his career, winning Liga I twice and the Cup Romaniei once.
De Zerbi would then wind down his playing career back in Italy with Trento in 2013.
Igor Tudor enjoyed a distinguished playing career, establishing himself as a commanding defender and defensive midfielder at the highest level of European football.
