Tottenham Hotspur are in a precarious position after Igor Tudor’s departure. Tudor’s tenure lasted just 44 days and seven games. The hierarchy have addressed the mistake they made with the outlandish appointment of Tudor as interim head coach. The stakes are now so high they cannot afford another wrong decision.
Tudor’s Departure and Its Implications
Tudor’s departure after only 44 days concludes a bizarre and potentially hugely expensive episode. Fingers are pointing firmly in the direction of chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange. If Venkatesham and Lange get the next big decision wrong it could conceivably end with Spurs in the Championship. This would leave a scar on their record that would be impossible to recover from.
Appointing Tudor was a mistake that should never have been made in the first place. Tudor’s spell in charge may yet end up as the 44 days that sealed Spurs’ Premier League fate. Tottenham fans will be waiting to see what Venkatesham can pull off now.
The ominous spectre of relegation is even more of a possibility after Tudor’s seven games in charge. These games brought one pyrrhic victory, exiting the Champions League against Atletico Madrid, and none in the Premier League. Venkatesham and Lange will know the stakes as Spurs stand one point and one place above the relegation spots, the end coming for Tudor after the humiliating 3-0 home defeat by fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest.
Decisions Behind Tudor’s Appointment
Venkatesham and Lange were behind the decision to bring in Tudor. He is described as the combustible Croatian with a chequered coaching career and no Premier League experience. He was brought in to succeed the sacked Thomas Frank.
Having delayed dismissing Frank, seemingly hoping for a revival that was never coming and a change in the toxic mood among fans that was too far gone to be rescued, turning to Tudor was left-field at best.
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There seemed little logic in Tudor taking over, even for an interim period. This will certainly have brought Venkatesham and Lange into the crosshairs of the Lewis family, who own the club and have entrusted them with taking Spurs into a brighter future. One source close to Spurs suggested Tudor was a leaving gift suggestion from former sporting director Fabio Paratici. If it was, it was one they must now regret accepting.
The Human Cost
There must be a measure of sympathy for Tudor, who also had to deal with the death of his father after being parachuted into a role he was clearly unsuited for, while taking over a squad ravaged by injuries and a complete loss of confidence.
Sympathy will be in shorter supply for Venkatesham and Lange.
Tudor’s arrival raised eyebrows all round.
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Tudor’s unique selling point was supposedly his status as an impact coach with a capacity for getting.