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Your views on Roberto De Zerbi

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Live Reporting

Written by Gary Rose, Huzaifah Khan & Adam Millington.

  1. 'Our priority is climbing the table' - De Zerbi

    Tottenham Hotspur

    Following his appointment, Roberto de Zerbi told the Tottenham Hotspur club website: “I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world.

    “In all my discussions with the club’s leadership, their ambition for the future has been clear – to build a team capable of reaching great achievements, and to do that playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters. I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to deliver it.

    “Our 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. I’m looking forward to getting out on the training pitch and working with these players to achieve that.”

  2. Roberto de Zerbi's appointment on a five-year deal is subject to a work permit and, as we revealed earlier, he does not have a relegation release clause.

    He becomes Spurs' third boss of the season.

  3. Spurs confirm De Zerbi appointment
    Breaking

    Tottenham have confirmed the appointment of Roberto de Zerbi as their new head coach on a long-term contract.

  4. Get Involved - 'Get behind De Zerbi and the team'

    Select the 'Get Involved' button to have your say

    Get behind De Zerbi and the whole team, will them on to stay up. All games are winnable. Seven games left to stay up, we can do it. Put belief in the team and confidence will grow.

    Colin, Bristol

    RDZ is the best man available to keep Spurs up. An expensive five year deal is a lot cheaper than the cost of relegation!

    Charlie, London

  5. Slow burner - De Zerbi's struggles as mid-season appointment

    Tottenham need Roberto de Zerbi to make an instant impact, with the club one place and one point above the Premier League relegation zone and just seven games of the season remaining.

    Yet his record at previous clubs suggests De Zerbi has initially struggled to turn teams around.

    The Italian has taken over mid-season at three different clubs and his record in the first seven games has not been great.

    De Zerbi managed just one win at Palermo in 2016 before eventually getting the sack, and no wins at Benevento the following season as they were relegated from Serie A.

    Then, in 2022, he struggled early in his tenure at Brighton as the Seagulls claimed just eight points from his first seven games, but went on to qualify for Europe.

    Roberto de Zerbi during his tenure at PalermoGetty Images

    De Zerbi's record in his first seven games at clubs where he has taken over mid-season:

    Palermo, 2016

    • One win
    • Two draws
    • Four defeats
    • Five points

    Benevento, 2017

    • No wins
    • One draw
    • Six defeats
    • One point

    Brighton, 2022

    • Two wins
    • Two draws
    • Three defeats
    • Eight points

  6. De Zerbi's unquestionable impact at Brighton

    Roberto de Zerbi takes applause from Brighton fansGetty Images

    Roberto de Zerbi had 89 games as manager of Brighton in all competitions, recording a win rate of 42.7%.

    His win rate in the Premier League was marginally lower - 37% from 70 games.

    But his impact was unquestionable.

    After being appointed as a replacement for Graham Potter in September 2022, the Italian's high-pressing style helped the Seagulls to a sixth-placed finish in his first season, taking them into Europe for the first time.

    De Zerbi's Premier League record at Brighton:

    • Games - 70
    • Won - 26
    • Drawn - 19
    • Lost - 25
    • Points per game - 1.39
    • Win rate - 37%

  7. Get Involved - Your thoughts on De Zerbi

    Select the 'Get Involved' button to have your say

    Massive gamble, but I hope it works out for the Spurs fans sake

    Stephen

    Will be a great addition at end of season, with 7 games to go, its a big risk, in fact monumental

    Brian

  8. Is Roberto de Zerbi the man to save Spurs?

    Is Roberto de Zerbi the man to save Spurs?

    Mark Chapman, ex-England captain Steph Houghton and former Wales skipper Ashley Williams discussed Roberto de Zerbi's prospects at Spurs on the Monday Night Club.

    Watch above.

  9. Just joining?

    We're reporting on the news that Roberto de Zerbi is set to be appointed as the new Tottenham manager.

    Here are some of the key bits of information in those reports from our football correspondent Sami Mokbel.

    • Roberto de Zerbi is set to be appointed as the new Tottenham manager
    • He will sign a new five-year contract with the club
    • The Italian does not have a relegation clause in his contract
    • De Zerbi has been the overwhelming first-choice

  10. Get Involved

    Select the 'Get Involved' button to have your say

    Great result for Spurs. He was a good manager for Brighton and got them into Europe.

    Michael

    A fantastic appointment to steady the ship and hopefully save us from relegation.

    Mike

  11. De Zerbi's managerial record

    Roberto de Zerbi celebratingGetty Images

    And what of his actual record, you ask?

    Well, Roberto de Zerbi boasts a very impressive win percentage and points per game (PPG) ratio across his clubs - especially his more recent ones.

    De Zerbi's managerial record by club:

    • Marseille: 1.81 PPG / 56.5%.
    • Brighton: 1.51 PPG / 42.7%.
    • Shakhtar Donetsk: 2.17 PPG / 66.6%
    • Sassuolo: 1.38 PPG / 35.8%
    • Benevento: 0.72 PPG / 20.7%
    • Foggia: 1.86 PPG / 53.3%
    • Darfo Boario: 0.91 PPG / 22.7%

    NB: Clubs listed where has been in charge for 20 or more games

  12. De Zerbi's managerial history

    Roberto de ZerbiGetty Images

    Roberto de Zerbi already has a managerial CV spanning eight different teams, despite being just 46 years of age.

    After retiring from playing in 2013, De Zerbi immediately went into management with lower league Italian side, Darfo Boario.

    From there, he jumped around several Italian clubs before earning his first major move to Ukrainian giants, Shakhtar Donetsk.

    He won the Ukrainian Super Cup in his first season and led them to the top of the league before departing the club in July 2022 prior to the conclusion of the campaign as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

    In September 2022, he succeed Graham Potter as manager of Brighton and led the club to the FA Cup semi-final in his first season, along with a sixth-place finish in the Premier League - securing European football for the first time in the club's history.

    His most recent managerial spell came in France with Ligue 1 side Marseille. He led the club to a second-place finish in his first season behind champions Paris St-Germain.

    De Zerbi left in February of 2026 following the team's exit from the Champions League league phase. The club were fourth in Ligue 1 at the time.

  13. Spurs tried to bring in De Zerbi after Frank exit

    Sami Mokbel
    BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

    De ZerbiGetty Images

    De Zerbi was overwhelmingly the club’s number one choice for the position. The attraction to the Italian was based on his prior Premier League experience, his tactical acumen and the his reputation for playing attacking football.

    The club tried to bring him to the club after Thomas Frank left, but it was deemed too soon given he left Marseille on the same day.

    De Zerbi was viewed as the best option for the long term of the club and allows the club to plan for the summer transfer window, and he has time to experience working with the current options.

    He was also viewed as the best option for short-term with no other highly-credible coach on the market now.

    There was also a view taken that it’s best for players not to have another interim.

  14. Get Involved - 'He can do a good job'

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    I like him. I think he can do a good job and hopefully (not getting to optimistic) he can keep us up

    Henry

    I like this decision by the board for once. If only we had the chance to get him when they made the strange decision to appoint Tudor. Premier League experience, very successful at Brighton and will play attentive football. Question is, will the board back him when they stay up.

    Seth

  15. Lucky number three?

    The appointment of Roberto de Zerbi means Tottenham Hotspur will be on their third different manager of the season after parting ways with European Cup winning boss Ange Postecoglou last summer.

    Will De Zerbi be lucky number three?

    Thomas Frank looking dejected on the sidelineGetty Images
    Igor Tudor looking dejected on the sidelineGetty Images
    Roberto de Zerbi shouting on the touchlineGetty Images

  16. Get Involved - 'This will end in tears'

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    A fiery manager teaming up with a notoriously stubborn board = blood bath. Couldn’t think of a less well-suited appointment. A disgruntled Spurs fan

    Colin

    Great appointment....for the summer. He lost his first 5 games at Brighton. This will end in tears.

    Alex

  17. No relegation clause in De Zerbi contract
    Breaking

    Sami Mokbel
    BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

    De ZerbiGetty Images

    Roberto De Zerbi does not have a relegation clause in his Tottenham contract as the Premier League club close in on appointing the Italian as their new head coach.

    De Zerbi is finalising a deal to become the club’s new boss on a five year contract with his first target being to lead the club to safety.

    Spurs are currently in 17th, one point clear of the relegation zone with just seven matches to play.

    But even if Spurs are relegated, sources have told BBC Sport that the deal to take De Zerbi to Spurs does not include a clause that allows the Italian to walk away from the club if they are in the Championship next season.

    It is understood De Zerbi is fully committed to rebuilding Tottenham and views the position as long term project regardless of which division they are playing in.

  18. De Zerbi 'overwhelming first-choice' for job

    Sami Mokbel
    BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

    De ZerbiGetty Images

    Roberto De Zerbi has been the overwhelming first-choice to become the club’s new permanent head coach and according to well-placed sources, all parties have now struck a deal for the former Brighton manager to become the club’s new manager on a permanent basis with an announcement expected in due course.

    BBC Sport reported on Sunday that De Zerbi was the man Spurs wanted to replace Igor Tudor, who officially left the club by mutual consent over the weekend. Talks have been ongoing since Sunday and those discussions have been successful.

    While De Zerbi was always open to taking the Spurs position, it is understood he initially showed a reluctance to accept the job before the end of the season.

    But the coach, who left Marseille earlier this year, had been persuaded to take the job immediately.

  19. De Zerbi agrees long-term contract with Spurs
    Breaking

    Sami Mokbel
    BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

    Tottenham Hotspur will appoint Roberto De Zerbi as their new head coach after the Italian signed a long-term contract with the club.

    This is a developing story and we'll bring you more as we have it.