Tudor’s Challenge at Tottenham: A Season of Renewal and Resilience

omidbasir- Just under a year ago, Juventus found themselves in a precarious position. While their troubles were not as severe as those faced by Tottenham, the situation was nonetheless dire.

In the four weeks leading up to the March 2025 international break, the Bianconeri had suffered several setbacks: elimination from the Champions League at the hands of PSV, a humiliating defeat by Empoli in the Coppa Italia, and a slip to fifth place in Serie A. The looming threat of failing to secure a top-four finish heightened concerns within a club already grappling with financial issues. This prompted Juventus to pivot away from their ambitious Thiago Motta project and enlist Igor Tudor to salvage the remainder of the season.

At the time, this decision appeared to be a wise one. Tudor had a commendable history of stabilizing struggling Serie A teams. Although he was not particularly fond of being labeled as a ‘ferryman’—the Italian equivalent of a football ‘firefighter’—he had successfully saved Udinese from relegation on two occasions (in 2018 and 2019), guided winless Verona from 19th to 9th place between September 2021 and May 2022, and assisted Lazio in securing a Europa League spot in 2024 after the abrupt exit of Maurizio Sarri with just over two months remaining in the campaign.

Thus, it was not surprising that Tudor managed to steer Juventus back into the Champions League, accumulating 18 points from his nine games in charge before the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.

Tudor did not implement any groundbreaking tactics after taking over in Turin. He raised the intensity of Juventus’s play and injected much-needed verticality into their game. However, the primary shift compared to Motta’s tenure was his willingness to listen to players and position them according to their preferences. As Fabio Capello noted in the Gazzetta dello Sport, “Igor didn’t invent a magic formula, but he has demonstrated that he possesses the essential skills required to coach a top-tier team: common sense and practicality.”

Capello further remarked, “He has granted players much greater freedom. It’s as if the Croatian has rung the school bell: books under desks, and everyone in the playground having fun.”

Despite this positive assessment, there remains a prevailing sentiment that Tudor, Italy’s favorite substitute teacher, may not be equipped to take on a full-time role. Juventus harbored doubts about extending Tudor’s contract beyond the season. Although he had secured a top-four finish, activating the automatic extension clause in his contract, the club retained the right to terminate the agreement for a mere €1 million. Consequently, the plan was to leave Tudor in charge for last summer’s Club World Cup while continuing the search for a more decorated coach.

Tudor expressed his frustration over the club’s indecision, publicly issuing an ultimatum after securing Champions League football: a firm decision was necessary before the Club World Cup. He argued that any delay would not be a “serious option for the club or the coach.”

Juve’s general manager, Damian Comolli, concurred, and the 2025-26 campaign commenced with Tudor speaking optimistically about a title challenge: “Juventus never start a season just to qualify for the Champions League.”

Initially, the team appeared to be Scudetto challengers after defeating Inter 4-3 on matchday three, maintaining a perfect start to the season. However, this victory would mark Tudor’s last as manager; he was dismissed on October 27 after enduring an eight-match winless streak—the club’s worst run since May 2009.

Tudor had previously attributed the team’s poor performance to refereeing errors and a congested schedule. However, he should have been aware that such justifications would likely fall on deaf ears at a club where victory is paramount. Additionally, his unfavorable comparisons between his situation at Juventus and Cesc Fabregas’s experience at Como, where Fabregas reportedly received all the summer signings he requested, had reportedly irked his superiors.

Considering his familiarity with Juventus’s philosophy, it was surprising for Tudor to assert that judging his team solely on results would be inappropriate. His claim that “the tactical system rarely counts for much these days” even elicited a response from the usually mild-mannered Alessandro Del Piero, who countered, “I’m not sure it’s right to say all you need is heart or mentality. You need to be organized, have tactical ideas, and maintain peak performance, including the fire Tudor speaks of. And it’s not solely about the players.”

Juventus’s improvement following Tudor’s dismissal supports Del Piero’s argument. Under Luciano Spalletti, the team has surged from eighth to fifth place, scoring freely after failing to find the net during Tudor’s final four matches.

Tudor might contend that Juventus would have fared better offensively had they retained Randal Kolo Muani, who netted 10 goals during his loan spell last season. The French striker will likely thrive under Tudor at Tottenham, particularly in his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, which emphasizes pace and width. However, both Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro, offensively minded full-backs, are currently sidelined with hamstring injuries, with only Porro having a chance of returning in time for the north London derby against Arsenal—where captain Cristian Romero will be unavailable due to suspension.

Adding to the challenge is the absence of Mohammed Kudus for at least another month, alongside uncertainty regarding Dejan Kulusevski’s return. With long-term absentees Rodrigo Bentancur and James Maddison also out, Tudor is stepping into a role with a squad lacking both depth and quality.

Nevertheless, Tudor remains confident in the existing talent within the Tottenham squad to avoid relegation. He asserts that it is his responsibility “to organize, energize, and quickly improve our results.” This role is one he relishes, as it aligns with his professional expertise.

History illustrates that Tudor does not require a full pre-season to refine a team. As he noted during Juventus’s revival last year, “It’s difficult to change many aspects in a month, but when the team trains in line with my preferences, they can achieve anything, regardless of the opponent. In modern football, physicality often outweighs quality. Quality remains crucial, but without physicality, it is rendered irrelevant.”

His initial task will be to identify which players he can rely on to commit wholeheartedly to his vision, as he holds a Bill-like perspective on football. “When the game starts, it’s a matter of life or death—everything else is irrelevant,” he stated before a crucial clash with Venezia last year.

Convincing the Spurs squad to embrace this philosophy will undoubtedly impact Tudor’s success and tenure in north London. However, he is unlikely to be daunted by the challenge; he has previously taken over teams that were in worse shape than Tottenham.

Moreover, Tudor is unfazed by the negativity surrounding his appointment. He has faced more hostile environments, such as the Stade Velodrome, and his self-belief remains intact despite his dismissal from Juventus. “If you ask me whether I feel inferior to anyone,” he asserted last October, “I would say no, not to anyone.”

Ultimately, Tudor stands as one of football’s most fearless and effective firefighters. The true test for him at Tottenham, following 11 head coaching positions in 13 years, will be to demonstrate to the club—and to the football world—that Serie A’s seasoned substitute teacher merits a long-term commitment.