Tottenham Hotspur have turned to Roberto De Zerbi at a moment of real urgency, but the Italian’s arrival already points to something much bigger than a short-term fix.
Spurs sit just one point above the relegation zone and are still without a league win in 2026. That context matters. However, the club’s decision to hand De Zerbi a long-term deal until 2031 shows this is being framed as the start of a new cycle, not just a rescue job.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tottenham have gone even further behind the scenes. The report claims De Zerbi has effectively secured a structure closer to the traditional English “manager” role, with influence beyond the pitch.
Ferguson-style structure behind appointment
That is where the reference to Alex Ferguson comes in.
The Italian newspaper explains that Tottenham’s idea is for De Zerbi to act not only as head coach, but also as a central figure in football decisions – shaping squad building, direction and long-term planning. It is a model that defined Ferguson’s era at Manchester United, where the Scot held authority across multiple layers of the club.
In modern Premier League structures, that level of control has largely disappeared. Even elite managers like Pep Guardiola work within defined sporting hierarchies. The same applies to Mikel Arteta, who is often cited as one of the few current examples with broader influence at a top club.
Tottenham appear ready to shift back in that direction.
The report states De Zerbi initially resisted taking the job immediately. Spurs’ insistence, and their willingness to align fully with his ideas, ultimately convinced him. Crucially, that included offering a say in decisions beyond team selection.
Immediate Tottenham survival, long-term control
Roberto De Zerbi now faces a split challenge. In the short term, survival is everything. Tottenham’s position demands quick results, and injuries have already left the squad stretched.
The Italian will have limited time on the training ground before his first matches. At the same time, the structure described by La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests Spurs are already thinking beyond this season.
De Zerbi himself made that balance clear in his first words after signing, stressing the need to climb the table while also buying into the club’s broader ambition to build a side capable of “great achievements” with an identifiable style of play.
That combination explains why Tottenham pushed so hard.
Risky long-term gamble for Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur are not just appointing a coach. They are reshaping how the club operates.
If the Italian outlet is correct, De Zerbi’s role could extend into areas typically handled by recruitment and executive leadership. That would mark a clear departure from recent structures at Spurs.
For supporters, the comparison to Ferguson is not about replicating success overnight.
It is about restoring a single, strong football voice at the centre of decisions. Whether that works will depend on results in the coming weeks. Relegation would change everything.
But if Tottenham stay up, this may be remembered less as a crisis appointment and more as the moment the club handed control to a manager again.
🇸🇪 Lucas Bergvall | Big claims from Sweden
📰 Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet today reports Aston Villa and Chelsea were willing to pay £40m in January window
➡️ Tottenham likely to be contacted again… especially if relegatedhttps://t.co/afpNRuChnV #avfc #cfc #thfc— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) April 1, 2026
