Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Igor Tudor as interim head coach until the end of the season, following the dismissal of Thomas Frank earlier this week.
Frank was sacked after a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United left Spurs 16th in the Premier League, just five points above the relegation zone.
In confirming Tudor’s appointment, the club outlined a shift in direction, stressing the need for improvement in both results and performances.
“Igor joins us with a clear focus to improve performances, deliver results and move us up the Premier League table,” the club said in a statement.
“His mandate is straightforward, bring organisation, intensity and competitive edge to the squad at a decisive stage of the campaign.”
Clear performance message
The wording of the statement hinted dissatisfaction with recent performances under Frank. Spurs have struggled for consistency this season, prompting the board to act with the team hovering above the bottom three.
Tudor, 47, arrives with managerial experience in Italy, France and Turkey, including spells at Juventus, Marseille, Lazio and Galatasaray. As a player, he made nearly 175 appearances for Juventus.
Speaking after his appointment, Tudor said: “It is an honour to join this Club at an important moment.
“I understand the responsibility I have been handed and my focus is clear: to bring greater consistency to our performances and compete with conviction in every match.
“There is strong quality in this playing squad, and my job is to organise it, energise it and improve our results quickly.”
Immediate derby test
Tudor’s first match will be against Arsenal in the North London derby next Sunday.
With rivals below them capable of closing the gap, Spurs face immediate pressure to secure points.