Postpublished at 18:00 BST
Seven games left to keep Tottenham in the Premier League, will Roberto de Zerbi do it?
We're going to end our live coverage with that question. Whatever the outcome, it is set to be a interesting watch.
Goodbye!
Summary
BREAKING: Roberto De Zerbi appointed Tottenham manager on a five-year contract
De Zerbi: "I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world."
He has been the overwhelming first-choice to become the club's new permanent head coach, reports Sami Mokbel
He does not have a relegation clause in his contract despite the club sitting 17th, one point clear of the relegation zone with just seven matches to play
Stats: De Zerbi boasts a very impressive win percentage and points per game (PPG) ratio across his clubs
It comes after Igor Tudor left as manager on Sunday after 44 days in the role
Tottenham are winless in the league since December - their next match is against Sunderland on April 12
Your views on Roberto De Zerbi
Postpublished at 18:00 BST
Seven left to survivepublished at 17:56 BST
Seven games remain of the 2025-26 Premier League season. Seven games being a Premier League side remain for three of the six clubs pictured below.
While Wolves and Burnley look doomed, we've got ourselves a four-way battle for that final relegation spot.
Will Roberto de Zerbi be able to get enough out of this Spurs team to ensure that it's not them that succumb to the dreaded drop?
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 17:49 BST
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Great manager, let's hope he can have an instant impact. I would imagine he could get the best of of players like James Maddison when he is fit.
Simon
Even as a spurs fan I think going down would be a good thing. Start building from bottom up. A good shake up is what's needed
Rob
'He has to turn losers into winners'published at 17:45 BST
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer
Image source, Getty ImagesDe Zerbi only has one priority after taking over at Tottenham Hotspur. He has to keep them in the Premier League.
The peril of Spurs' current position was why the highly-regarded Italian was initially reluctant to take over so late in the season, with the club's future still uncertain as they contemplate the real possibility of dropping into the Championship.
How would De Zerbi view his future if Spurs do not escape the drop? It would not be down to him, but he certainly does not regard himself as a coach who operates in the second tier.
Given Spurs' status and ambitions, relegation is as unpalatable as it gets. First Division football at the magnificent Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would be nothing short of total humiliation.
De Zerbi's firecracker personality, as well as an ability as a coach that has won him widespread admiration from peers such as Pep Guardiola, must inject life into a squad decimated by injuries and stripped of every vestige of confidence.
He has to turn losers into winners. Instantly.
And he has to start at Sunderland in Spurs' next Premier League game.
De Zerbi is fiercely competitive and must transmit that into his players, easier said than done given the timid, defeatist nature of their performances this season.
He would have preferred to start afresh next season – and maybe somewhere else if Spurs are a Championship club – but he is confident, talented and brimming with self-belief.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 17:41 BST
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The question in the live chat is "Is De Zerbi a good appointment for Tottenham?" and ultimately it's difficult to answer with a yes/no. Is he a good general appointment? Probably not, if we go off previous managers. Is he the best 'known' manager they can do at the moment? Probably.
Rusty, Bournemouth
Can you name the past 10 permanent Spurs managers?published at 17:38 BST
Test your knowledge
get involved Get Involved - 'Means nothing if Spurs don't give him time'published at 17:36 BST
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De Zerbi is a good manager, judging by his time at Brighton and Marseille, but Spurs are a different animal. Conte and Mourinho were also good managers before they went to Spurs. Means nothing if they don't give him time, which is something they don't have with relegation looming.
Iain, Wokingham
It doesn't matter who is in charge, it's down to the players when they cross the white line. The supporters, the manager will all believe but ultimately it's down to the players.
Steve, Spurs fan - Shropshire
'They should have brought De Zerbi in back in February'published at 17:34 BST
Steph Houghton
Former England captain on Monday Night ClubResults show Spurs are in a mess.
They should have brought De Zerbi in back in February and given him the time. He's going to be asking the players to do things they are not used to. They probably don't know if they're coming and going after going from [Ange] Postecoglou, to [Thomas] Frank, to [Igor] Tudor and now to something completely new again.
They have seven games to stay up and they are the team not in form.
'I am not sure how these next seven games will go'published at 17:31 BST
Ashley Williams
Former Wales defender on Monday Night ClubHe's the type of manager who is very meticulous, very detailed.
He builds for the future but he's got so little time. I'm not sure how these next seven games will go.
Spurs' remaining fixturespublished at 17:27 BST
Having been knocked out of the Champions League, Spurs only have seven Premier League games left to play - and they're all important.
Sitting just one point above the relegation zone, the new manager faces a giant battle to keep his new club away from dropping into the bottom three.
Let's take a look at those remaining fixtures...
- Sunderland (A)
- Brighton (H)
- Wolves (A)
- Aston Villa (A)
- Leeds (H)
- Chelsea (A)
- Everton (H)
'A Guardiola protege who doesn't care what people think'published at 17:24 BST
Guillem Balague
Spanish football journalistIt is well documented that De Zerbi's footballing DNA traces back to the Pep Guardiola tradition, but to leave it there would be restrictive. He has taken the principles - positional play, pressing triggers, control through the ball - and built his own beliefs around them
There are a number of reasons why this appointment could work.
First, De Zerbi doesn't care what people think. He has a clear, unshakeable idea of how he wants to play football and at a club as chaotic as Tottenham right now, that kind of certainty is invaluable.
He has also never managed a club with no expectations and has always delivered under pressure. He knows what it means to have concrete targets and he knows how to meet them.
He brings the added benefit of knowing the Premier League and the timing of the likely appointment gives him scope for preparation. Spurs don't play again until 12 April and that gives him precious time to assess his squad.
Image source, Getty Imagesget involved Get Involved - 'Why has the board picked De Zerbi?'published at 17:19 BST
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Reading from the same script, with the ending the same - relegation. Another random managerial appointment should have opted for an English name (Gareth Southgate).
Clive, Norfolk
It’s hard to fathom why the board has appointed De Zerbi. How is he an upgrade on Frank? A former Spurs player as interim before appointing Pochettino in the summer was the best option. Poch loves the club and the fans love him. More disappointment.
Charles, Wiltshire
Postpublished at 17:16 BST
Just joining?
We're reporting on the news that Roberto de Zerbi has been appointed as the new Tottenham manager.
Here are some of the key bits of information from our football correspondent Sami Mokbel.
- De Zerbi sign a new five-year contract with the club
- The Italian does not have a relegation clause in his contract
- De Zerbi has been the overwhelming first-choice
get involved Get Involved - 'Stunned Spurs have given him five years'published at 17:13 BST
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I am sitting here stunned that a club which has sacked three managers since May 2025 has offered the next one a FIVE-YEAR deal. Who is making decisions at Spurs? Homer Simpson?
Tim, Gloucestershire
I'm just picturing the Tottenham fans wondering how long they should wait before they start booing this manager and demanding his dismissal.
Dylan, Reading
'Spurs would not be fighting relegation under Levy'published at 17:10 BST
Brad Friedel
Ex-Tottenham goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 LiveI don't think there's any possible way they would be in this situation if [former executive chairman] Daniel Levy was still holding on the purse strings.
I was at the club, I negotiated my contracts with Daniel and I know how he operates.
I think the criticism of Daniel was maybe he wouldn't take the risks associated to getting to first or second in the Premier League - but that's tough, it's really difficult to break into the wage structures of Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City.
He had one foot in the door in that; the revenue brought in, the stadium, the training facility. Looking back, maybe he should have kept Mauricio [Pochettino, in 2019] because they had a really good relationship working together.
It's really hard to run a football club and get every single decision right. My point is they wouldn't be a point above relegation right now [if Levy was still at the club].
If they were mid-table, Daniel Levy would be getting screamed at and the fans would be livid, don't get me wrong. But they would not be fighting off relegation.
Opposition to De Zerbi's appointment among fans' groupspublished at 17:07 BST
Media caption, Spurs fan group criticise De Zerbi appointment
Opposition is growing among official Tottenham fans' groups to Roberto de Zerbi being named manager because of his controversial support of Mason Greenwood.
The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust held an emergency board meeting on Monday night and has now contacted the club to say it cannot support the appointment.
The group told BBC Sport that it had received "a lot of emails from supporters" lodging complaints.
Alli Speechly, the co-founder of Women of the Lane, said her group also opposed the appointment and she will stop attending matches over the issue.
De Zerbi has said Greenwood "paid in a strong way" after leaving Manchester United for Marseille after charges against him, including attempted rape and assault, were dropped.
get involved Get Involved - 'Recipe for disaster'published at 17:05 BST
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Can’t see this ending well at all, Spurs fans will need to see immediate results. He didn’t start well at Brighton and has a history of falling out with the board. 5 year contract is mental. Recipe for disaster in my opinion.
Connor
Apparently Frank was a great signing for us, now its De Zerbi, can someone please make up their minds.
Bill
'De Zerbi brings a wealth of experience at highest level' - Langepublished at 17:03 BST
Tottenham Hotspur Sporting Director Johan Lange said: “Roberto was our number one target for the summer and we are very pleased to be able to bring him in now.
“He is one of the most creative and forward-thinking coaches in world football, and brings with him a wealth of experience at the highest level, including in the Premier League.”
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 16:59 BST
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It's a very good appointment, but he left Brighton and Marseille because of disagreements with the board about direction... sure this will be different though!
Luke
Personally stunned they didn't go for Sherwood or Redknapp...
Simon
Poll - Is Spurs a good move for De Zerbi?published at 16:57 BST
At the top of the page, you'll see a poll asking Is De Zerbi a good appointment for Tottenham?
As things stand, it's a close-run thing!
But what about flipping it. On the one hand, this is one of the most difficult jobs to take but the job security at a financially strong club is surely appealing. So - is De Zerbi making the right choice?
