03/31/26 01:26:00
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03/31 13:24 CDT De Zerbi hired to coach relegation-threatened Tottenham,
already facing opposition from fans' groups
De Zerbi hired to coach relegation-threatened Tottenham, already facing
opposition from fans' groups
By STEVE DOUGLAS
AP Sports Writer
Tottenham, a top English club threatened by relegation from the Premier League,
hired Roberto De Zerbi as its manager on Tuesday despite opposition to the
appointment from fans' groups because of the Italian's past support of a player
who was charged with offenses including attempted rape.
De Zerbi replaced Igor Tudor, who was fired on Sunday after 44 days of an
interim coaching spell that worsened Tottenham's plight in the Premier League.
Spurs, the reigning Europa League champions and ever-presents in England's top
division since 1978, are one point above the relegation zone with seven games
left.
De Zerbi previously worked in the Premier League as Brighton's manager and was
most recently at Marseille, which he left in February after a disagreement with
the French club's leadership.
While at Marseille, De Zerbi coached former Manchester United striker Mason
Greenwood, who was charged in October 2022 with attempted rape, controlling and
coercive behavior, and assault after images and videos were posted online.
British prosecutors dropped the charges in February 2023 owing to a
"combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses" and due to "no realistic
prospect of conviction."
During their time together at Marseille, De Zerbi described Greenwood as a
"good guy" who "paid dearly for what happened," adding: "I regret what happened
in his life because I know someone different from what's being described,
especially in England."
Women of the Lane, a Tottenham-affiliated women's supporters' group, has
questioned De Zerbi's "judgment and leadership" because of the way he "publicly
defended Mason Greenwood in a way that downplays the seriousness of male
violence against women and girls" and said it was "not an appointment Tottenham
Hotspur should make."
Proud Lilywhites, Tottenham's LGBTQI supporter group, also has objected to De
Zerbi's arrival, saying the decision to appoint a coach "isn't just about
results or style of football. It's about values, identity, and the kind of
people we choose to represent us."
"When someone in that position publicly defends a player like Mason Greenwood,
and frames it in a way that downplays the seriousness of what happened, it
matters, not just in isolation but in what it signals," the group said.
Spurs Reach, the club's official race, ethnicity and cultural heritage fans'
group, said De Zerbi's "public remarks defending and contextualizing" Greenwood
"risks normalizing harmful attitudes, diminishing the experiences of survivors
and sending a deeply concerning message about what is tolerated within the
game."
The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust voiced its opposition hours after the
appointment was made, saying it "raises serious and far-reaching concerns"
because De Zerbi's comments about Greenwood "were unnecessary, ill-judged, and
deeply offensive to a significant number of supporters and, without doubt, will
have left victims of male violence alarmed."
"If those remarks reflect his genuine views, they cast a troubling shadow over
the values of the club we love," said the trust, which called on De Zerbi to
show "visible and sustained support for women's charities and organizations
working to combat violence against women."
Tottenham is in big trouble
De Zerbi, who has signed what Tottenham said was a "long-term contract," is a
coach known for playing an attacking, high-risk, complex style of soccer,
making it something of a bold appointment by club whose top-flight status on
the line.
He is a well-respected tactician --- doing admirably at Sassuolo in Italy and
then at Ukrainian team Shakhtar Donetsk, which he left in 2022 following
Russia's invasion --- but is known to have a combustible edge to him.
"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," De
Zerbi said in a statement by Tottenham.
Tottenham didn't specify but British media reported his contract is for five
years and does not include a relegation clause.
"Roberto was our No. 1 target for the summer," Spurs sporting director Johan
Lange said, "and we are very pleased to be able to bring him in now."
De Zerbi takes over a club that is one of the biggest in England and reached
the Champions League's round of 16 this season, losing over two legs to
Atletico Madrid.
However, Tottenham's Premier League form has been woeful over the last two
seasons. In the 2024-25 campaign, Spurs finished in 17th place --- one above
the relegation zone --- though that was partially due to focusing on the Europa
League as they surged to the title.
This season, Tottenham hasn't won a league game in 2026 and is coming off a 3-0
home loss to relegation rival Nottingham Forest before the international break.
Its next game is at Sunderland on April 12.
Thomas Frank started the season as Tottenham's manager before getting fired on
Feb. 11. His replacement, Tudor, lasted just seven matches --- losing five of
them --- before losing his job on Sunday to end his nightmarish month and a
half in charge.
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