Tottenham Hotspur has officially appointed former Croatia international Igor Tudor as their interim head coach until the end of the season, stepping in to replace Thomas Frank. Frank's tenure, which lasted just eight months, concluded on Wednesday after an eight-game winless streak in the league, marked by a 2-1 home loss to Newcastle. Despite guiding Spurs to the Champions League last 16, domestic struggles led to his dismissal. Tudor's contract runs until June, and his first significant challenge will be the crucial North London derby against Arsenal.

The club confirmed Tudor's mandate is to "bring organisation, intensity and competitive edge to the squad at a decisive stage of the campaign." Tottenham's sporting director, Johan Lange, expressed confidence in the new head coach, stating, "Igor brings clarity, intensity and experience of stepping into challenging moments and producing impact. Our objective is straightforward—to stabilise performances, maximise the quality within the squad and compete strongly in the Premier League and Champions League." Tudor himself acknowledged the honor and responsibility, emphasizing his focus on consistency, energy, and improving results quickly.

However, the appointment has drawn skepticism from former Tottenham manager and player Tim Sherwood. Sherwood voiced concerns about the professional upside for Tudor, particularly given the team's precarious position at 16th in the Premier League, just five points above the relegation zone. Sherwood questioned, "Apart from the money, what is the upside for him? If he finishes 12th, he's getting no credit. The downside is so catastrophic." He further highlighted the lack of Premier League knowledge Tudor possesses and the immense risk of having "fingerprints all over Tottenham getting relegated."

Sherwood believes that while the team might have enough to avoid relegation, Tudor would receive little to no credit for such an outcome, stressing that "he can only fail." He also suggested that the "toxic nature of the fans" contributed to Thomas Frank's premature departure, despite Frank's efforts. Tudor's previous role saw him sacked from Juventus in October after a seven-month spell where the team was 8th and on an eight-game winless run, underscoring his experience with challenging club situations.