Premier League analysis: What will Igor Tudor bring to Tottenham Hotspur?
After the Tottenham hierarchy finally made the decision to part ways with Thomas Frank, the pressure was on to find an adequate replacement ahead of a North London derby and crucial 12-game run in to steer the club away from relegation danger.
The decision was made for Igor Tudor to be appointed on an interim basis, with the feeling made clear there would be no view to a permanent position for the Croatian manager.
Tudor got to work at Hotspur Way on Monday ahead of a daunting first match with the league leaders and bitter rivals from the red side of town, and whilst the manager won’t have many players to choose from, there is optimism he has the credentials to save Spurs’ season.
Sports News Blitz writer Oliver Powell looks at what Igor Tudor will bring to Tottenham, and what he must do with the squad to ensure survival.
Who is Igor Tudor?
A short-term contract fits the bill of Igor Tudor as a manager, with his career a tale of whistle-stop tours to various parts of Europe to perform rescue acts.
The annual relocation by Tudor shouldn’t bring massive concerns to Spurs supporters with the focus exclusively on the remaining 12 Premier League matches plus any long-shotted progress in the Champions League, although the lack of Premier League experience given the precarious position could prove costly.
Tudor’s most recent job was at Juventus, where he picked the team up in ninth in March 2025 and led the Bianconeri to fourth place and Champions League qualification, with a certain French striker now on Tottenham’s books leading the line.
An eight-game winless run saw Tudor dismissed in October, suggesting Spurs are playing the percentages on which version of a Tudor team turns up with the hope his over-performance at the beginning is a sign of things to come.
Tudor performed a similar feat at Lazio, replacing Maurizio Sarri in March 2024 and producing an upturn in results to achieve Europa League qualification before resigning that same summer.
His reign at Marseille produced the same result, achieving third and Champions League qualification before walking away at the end of his only season in France in 2023.
What do his teams look like?
Tudor has first of all brought his own staff to Tottenham, with highly-rated Frank assistant Justin Cochrane, Chris Haslam and John Heitinga all leaving the club.
Assistant coach Ivan Javorcic, physical coach Riccardo Ragnacci and goalkeeping coach Tomislav Rogic join Tudor for the remainder of the season.
Tudor has been a clear favourer of back three systems, following former Spurs boss Antonio Conte in the Italian way of thinking with the new manager having vast experience as both a player and coach in Italy.
The focus will certainly be on solidity, with Spurs needing to become hard to beat again, although with the players available it will prove difficult to implement exactly what the 47 year old wants.
A back three would require some improvisation, with Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin the only available centre backs, meaning Joao Palhinha would most likely fill in and Archie Gray continuing to be required at full-back.
The system proved successful for Thomas Frank at points in his reign, particularly the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain despite losing on penalties, however the absences of Romero, Danso, Porro, and Udogie are problematic.
The attacking positions in Tudor’s team can vary from a two-up front to a sole striker with two supporting forwards, however once again the injury dilemma means options are limited to Randal Kolo Muani, Dominic Solanke, Mathys Tel, and Xavi Simons.
What can he do with the current Spurs squad?
As discussed, Tudor will have little flexibility with his team selection as the Spurs treatment room continues to host double-digit numbers of players.
Wilson Odobert is the latest, picking up a season-ending Cruciate Ligament injury and joining James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Bergvall, Dejan Kulusevski, Ben Davies, Kevin Danso, and Destiny Udogie on the long-term injury list.
Pedro Porro and Richarlison are hopefuls for sooner returns, although it remains to be seen if either have returned to training ahead of Sunday’s match, plus captain Cristian Romero will be suspended for the next three matches following his red card against Manchester United.
It wouldn’t be the boldest of predictions to suggest the line-up Tudor may elect to go with against Arsenal with the squad down to the barebones.
However, there is no doubting the players available have the quality to avoid any relegation drama with plenty of football still to be played.
Spurs will have also had a 12 day rest between their defeat against Newcastle United and the meeting with Arsenal, whilst the Gunners will have played three times in that same period, meaning there is hopefully enough time on the pitch for Tudor to give supporters a team to get behind at the often downcast Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
A potential line-up for Spurs against Arsenal: Vicario; Van de Ven, Dragusin, Palhinha; Spence, Sarr, Gallagher, Gray; Simons; Solanke, Kolo Muani.
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