Kudus Set to Play Under New Coach as Tottenham Appoint De Zerbi
- Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their new head coach on a long-term contract, with Mohammed Kudus set to play under the Italian tactician
- Spurs are in a relegation battle, sitting 17th in the Premier League and just one point above the drop zone with seven games remaining
- De Zerbi replaces Igor Tudor and has vowed to improve results quickly while building an exciting team capable of climbing the table before the season ends
- A Ghanaian football pundit believes Mohammed Kudus’ starting place at Tottenham could come under threat
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Mohammed Kudus is set to play under a new manager after Tottenham Hotspur appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their head coach.
Spurs have turned to De Zerbi in a bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League, with the club currently sitting 17th on the table, just one point above the drop zone, with seven matches remaining in the season.
Source: Getty Images
Tottenham confirmed that the former Olympique de Marseille and Brighton & Hove Albion boss has agreed to take over on a long-term contract, following the departure of interim coach Igor Tudor. De Zerbi had long been a managerial target for the North London side.
Speaking after his appointment, De Zerbi said via The Guardian:
“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 achieving great things, while playing a style of football that excites and inspires supporters. I am here because I believe in that vision, and I’ve signed a long-term contract to give everything to make it a reality.
“Our immediate priority is to climb the Premier League table. That will be our full focus until the final whistle of the season. I’m looking forward to getting on the training pitch and working with the players to achieve that.”
According to a report by Tom Allnutt of The Times, Tottenham decided to revisit the possibility of appointing the Italian tactician. De Zerbi had previously been loosely linked with the club earlier in the year before Tudor was ultimately chosen to replace Frank.
The report suggests Spurs could attempt to bring De Zerbi to north London permanently while including a special clause in his contract.
Such a provision would allow the coach to depart if Tottenham were relegated and he wished to continue managing in a top-flight league elsewhere.
Pundit warns Kudus’ Tottenham spot at risk
Ghanaian football pundit based in the UK, Kofi Esikyire believes Mohammed Kudus’ starting place at Tottenham could come under threat following the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi.
“He will rotate heavily, and that means Kudus will have to constantly prove himself,” Esikyire told YEN.com.gh.
“He will not stick with a fixed XI, so no player is guaranteed a starting role.”
“The system demands discipline and adaptability, and only those who meet that standard will play regularly.”
Injury frustration halts Kudus’ momentum
Unfortunately for the Nima-born playmaker, his progress has been disrupted by fitness concerns. Just as he appeared to be settling into Tottenham’s attacking system, an injury setback stalled his momentum.
According to Flashscore, Kudus has not featured for Spurs since January 7, missing several matches for the 2025 Europa League winners and interrupting the rhythm he had started to build.
The timing of the setback is particularly unfortunate. Being sidelined during a crucial part of the season has denied him valuable minutes to improve his performances and boost his statistics.
Source: Getty Images
More worryingly for Ghanaian fans, the lingering fitness concerns come at a sensitive time with the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching.
According to Football London, the Black Stars creator is not expected back until April 11, 2026, raising concerns about whether he can regain full sharpness ahead of the global showpiece.
For both Tottenham and the Ghana national team, the hope will be that Kudus returns quickly and rediscovers his best form before the biggest stage in world football.
Top 5 potential next Tottenham coaches
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported on a list of five managers who could have become the next Tottenham head coach after Thomas Frank was sacked.
Former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso, Roberto De Zerbi, and Enzo Maresca were notably mentioned.
Source: YEN.com.gh
